Overview
Symptoms of a broken ankle include: severe pain and tenderness, bruising and swelling, difficulty moving your foot or putting weight on it. It can be hard to tell the difference between a minor break and a sprain. If the ankle is too sore for your child to take weight through the leg they should be assessed by a doctor or nurse. An ankle fracture typically takes between 6 and 12 weeks to heal.
What to Do
If you think a child has broken their tibia, go immediately to your nearest accident and emergency (A&E) department. Call 999 for an ambulance if the injury seems severe or you’re not able to get to A&E quickly.
While you make your way to A&E or wait for an ambulance:
- avoid moving the injured leg as much as possible – keep it straight and put a cushion or clothing underneath to support it
- don’t try to realign any bones that are out of place
- cover any open wounds with a sterile dressing, a clean cloth or a clean item of clothing – maintain direct pressure on the wound if it keeps bleeding
- KEEP THE CHILD FASTING (No food or Drink)
- Where possible try to get someone else to drive so you can support and comfort your child en route to the hospital.
At The Hospital
On arrival in the emergency department your child will be given pain relief and the ankle will be x-rayed.
If the leg is deformed an attempt will be made to straighten it before placing it in a cast or back slab.
A cast or walking boot may be all that is required.
Injuries which are more severe and involve the joint surfaces or the growth plate may require surgery.
Care Advice During Recovery
The boot or cast will usually need to stay on for six weeks, but it may be needed for longer if the break was severe and the bone is taking longer to heal.
While your ankle is in a boot or cast:
- follow your doctor’s advice about putting weight on your ankle. Crutches may be needed for a few weeks. If the break is minor you may be able to walk on it straight away
- keep the boot or cast dry and keep your leg raised (for example, on pillows) whenever possible – read more about how to care for a plaster cast
- contact fracture clinic (in hours) or Accident and Emergency out of hour for cast problems (too loose, too tight or cracked)
- wiggle toes and bend the knee regularly to reduce stiffness – your doctor or a physiotherapistwill advise you about this
- seek medical advice if you notice changes in skin colour, pain or sensation in the arm or wrist or if signs of infection (redness, swelling or smelly discharge) develop
Your child should be able to attend school or an appropriate childcare setting while in their cast unless advised against this by your doctor.
Your doctor also advise about when your child can gradually return to sports and other normal activities.
The ankle may be stiff and weak after the cast is removed. This is normal.
The ankle can also be swollen and you child make walk with a limp for a period of time.
Children are able to restore a normal range of movement in their injured leg usually very quickly, however should they require additional assistance physiotherapy can be arranged.