Ankle Specialist
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Performance Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine
Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeons located in Shrewsbury, Toms River, & Wall Township, NJ
There’s no doubt about the impact of an ankle fracture, but you may not know that 25% of people who sprain their ankles can’t attend school or work for at least one week. David Dickerson, MD, and the team at Performance Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine provide comprehensive care for ankle injuries, creating customized treatment and rehabilitation to get you back into action as quickly as possible. If you suffer an ankle injury, call the office in Wall Township, Toms River, or Shrewsbury, New Jersey, or schedule an appointment online.
Ankle Q & A
What causes a sprained ankle?
A sprained ankle occurs when one or more of your ankle ligaments become stretched or torn. Most ankle sprains develop when you twist your ankle, fall, or land a jump awkwardly.
Ankle sprains are common and can happen to anyone at any time. However, sprains are frequently the result of a sports injury, especially if you engage in sports that demand quick, cutting actions.
What should I know about ankle fractures?
Your ankle consists of three bones that can all sustain a fracture: the ankle bone or talus and the ends of your two leg bones where they meet the ankle. Ankle fractures go by a variety of names, depending on which bone is broken and the type of fracture.
A high-energy event generally causes an ankle fracture, such as:
- Forceful twist or rotation
- High-velocity fall
- Motorcycle accident
- Car accident
- Skiing accident
When children break their ankle, the injury usually involves the growth plates at the ends of their leg bones. All fractures need immediate medical care, but it’s especially important to have a potential growth plate fracture quickly evaluated and treated to ensure the affected bone continues to grow normally.
What symptoms develop due to ankle injuries?
Sprains and fractures share similar symptoms. They’re so similar that it’s easy to mistake a fracture for a sprain or to discover that what appears to be a sprain is really a fracture.
After injuring your ankle, you experience one or more of the following symptoms.
- Severe pain
- Swelling
- Bruising
- Tender to the touch
- Ankle instability
- Deformity (if the bones are displaced)
- Inability to walk or bear weight on the ankle
If your ankle is swollen, painful to walk on, you can’t put any weight on the ankle, or there’s a break in your skin, schedule an appointment at Performance Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine.
What treatment might I receive for ankle arthritis?
Your ankle can develop osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Though a gradual degeneration of cartilage causes osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that causes joint inflammation, both conditions progressively damage your joint.
When conservative therapies no longer relieve your pain and stiffness, Performance Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine may recommend a joint replacement.
How do orthopaedic specialists treat ankle injuries?
Performance Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine recommends treatment based on the location of the fracture and the severity of your sprain or fracture. The first line of treatment is immobilization to give the bones and ligaments time to heal.
If you have a completely torn ligament or a complex fracture, you may need surgery to repair the ligament or reposition and stabilize the bones. As your inflammation decreases and the injury heals, you receive an individualized rehabilitation plan to restore strength and mobility.
If you suffer an ankle sprain or fracture, call Performance Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine or book an appointment online.
