Guide To Recovering From A Fractured Ankle

Apply Cold Compresses

It is often confusing whether hot or cold therapy should be used for an injury. A generalization of this confusing situation is to use cold compresses for acute injuries and swelling, while hot compresses are best used for muscle aches and arthritic stiffness. It is typical to see swelling and soft tissue damage with an ankle fracture. Individuals should be sure to apply cold compresses as soon as possible to reduce swelling, pain, and bruising. They should apply cold compresses for fifteen to twenty minutes before removing and allowing the skin to return to a normal temperature, which typically takes twenty to forty minutes, before reapplying the compress. Patients should never apply ice or cold packs directly to the skin as this is likely to increase tissue breakdown. They should have a cloth between the ice and the skin instead.

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Splint Or Cast The Injury

Ankle fractures require proper evaluation by a medical professional, typically an orthopedic surgeon or an emergency room physician. Fractured ankles are typically not possible to diagnose without radiographic imaging such as an x-ray, MRI or CT scan. Only a highly trained professional should determine whether to splint or cast the injury after proper physical evaluation and imaging. Stable ankle fractures, typically those involving one bone and select impact, can be completely healed with the use of a cast or splint. While a medical professional may make the process seem simple, the technique, the cast or splint used greatly impacts healing. Improper alignment of the fracture results in inadequate healing and is likely to inhibit a return to full function.

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