Broken vs sprained ankle : All you need to know about the differences, causes, symptoms and treatment

Busy lives often take a toll on our joints. Ankle joints are the most affected ones. Ankle joints help in supporting everyday movements and distributing body weight evenly. But what if you experience a sprained ankle? Or a broken ankle? How to know the difference between a broken and sprained ankle? What is this broken ankle vs sprain in the ankle debate all about?

Having a complex and vulnerable structure, ankle joints are made of three bones (tibia, fibula, and talus) with the support and movement provided by fibrous tissues called ligaments and muscles. Ankle injuries are pretty common and can affect people of all ages and activity levels. 

So if you also experience one, you must understand what a broken ankle vs sprain situation is. What are the various causes, symptoms, and treatment measures you can adopt to treat both on-time and heal the right way?

Broken ankle vs sprain in the ankle difference

A sprained ankle is caused by a tear or disruption in the ligaments. It often occurs when the ankle is twisted or overextended way past its natural range of motion. 

But a broken ankle is an injury to the bone. It is often caused by over-stressing the ankle bones beyond their strength. Broken ankles are often accompanied by ankle sprains, and the severity can range from tiny cracks or chips in the bones to breaks that pierce your skin.

Broken ankle vs sprained ankle causes and symptoms

The symptoms of both ankle injuries are pretty the same but still different because of the way they need to be treated further. Some of the causes that are both common to an ankle break and sprain are wear-and-tear, ankle twist, ankle rolling, etc.

But multiple causes are still different to both the injuries.

• Causes of ankle sprain: When your ankle is forced to move out of its position, it causes one or more of the ligaments to stretch or wear-out. Causes might include:

1. Ankle twist due to a fall or trip
2. Walking or running on an uneven surface
3. Falling or landing awkwardly on your feet causing ankle twist
4. Feet being stepped upon or landed upon by someone else during sports activity

• Causes of the broken ankle: A direct blow to the ankles or a twisting injury can often lead to a fracture or crack to the bone. Other causes might include:

1. Tripping or falling
2. Missteps
3. Car accidents
4. Hard landing

• Signs and symptoms of a sprained ankle vary depending on the severity that may include:

1. Tenderness when touching the affected ankle
2. Bruising
3. Swelling
4. Instability in the ankle
5. Pain and stiffness

• Signs and symptoms of a broken ankle often accompany a snapping or grinding sound at the time of injury with others as follows:

1. Bleeding (if the bone pierces the skin)
2. Visible and noticeable dislocation of the bone
3. Throbbing pain
4. Swelling, bruising, and tenderness
5. Difficulty walking or moving with weight

Broken ankle vs sprain in the ankle treatment ways

Note: In case of a feeling of severe pain or deformation, consult an orthopedic for proper treatment. Get the best and medical-grade orthopedic medical gear from MedontheGo. Relieve off associated ankle injury pain and treat with the best supplies for future benefits. 

If you think you have experienced a light sprained ankle, you can treat it well at the comfort of your home: 

1. By practicing the RICE method, that is rest, using an ice pack every two to three hours, compression with an elastic bandage to suppress swelling, and elevate the ankle above the level of your heart.
2. By using crutches when walking to keep any weight off the joint.
3. By wearing an ankle brace to support and prevent further damage to the sprained ankle. Get yourself one from here.
4. By indulging in physical therapy like balance and stability training, and also a range of motion, strength, and flexibility exercises.
5. By incorporating certain pain-relief medicines or relief sprays.

Note: Before adopting anything, do consult a doctor. Not everything will work for everyone especially those suffering from chronic illnesses like type2 diabetes, asthma, etc.

The severity of an ankle break determines treatment to undertake broken ankle repair. But some of the treatment remedies include:

1. Bandaging or taping and wrapping if less severe
2. Casting and booting if more severe
3. Arthroscopic surgery for severe cases, to remove broken bones’ fragments from the joint area
4. Reduction, meaning, manipulating the pieces of displaced bones back into their position for realignment. These broken pieces are then held together using plates, rods, screws, or wires.
5. Certain medications for pain-relief and quick healing

Note: Broken ankles take almost 6-12 weeks to heal with more than that required in case of surgeries! While sprained ankles take a few days to maximum one-two weeks to cure. Rest it depends on your age, overall health, and severity of the injury!

Our advice?

Whether a broken ankle or a sprain, it is always advisable to consult a foot and ankle orthopedic specialist as soon as possible and for a quick and right treatment.

Also, always be careful as both broken and sprained ankles are not fun. When they might turn into a lifetime injury or pain, no one knows. Take proper care, precautionary measures, and steps to avoid future ankle injuries! Broken ankle vs sprain is always something that will confuse you, but the aforementioned symptoms can help you know well before the time with treatment that can help you cure these better. Avoid smoking, eat healthily, attend any follow-up consultations, and avoid putting pressure on your ankle and take complete rest. 

If not ankle injuries, you might want to head over here to cater to other injuries, illnesses, personal care, and hygiene, etc. for which you might be looking for specific instruments, devices, medical care supplies, etc.