Atlanta Bone and Joint Specialists
  • Home
  • Our Doctors
    • Maurice Jové, M.D.
    • Nathan Jové, M.D.
    • Jeff Traub, M.D.
    • Brian Vanderhoof, D.O.
    • Physician Assistants >
      • Omid Midanaky, PA-C
      • Aidan O'Connor, MPH, PA-C
      • Elissa Ricker, PA-C
  • Locations
  • Appointments
    • Online Scheduling
    • Forms
    • Referrals
    • Independent Medical Examination
    • Telemedince and E-Visits >
      • E-Visit Scheduler
    • Saturday Clinic
    • What To Expect
    • Medical Tourism
  • Our Office
    • About Us
    • Social Media >
      • Facebook
      • Instagram
      • LinkedIN
      • Twitter
      • YouTube
    • Orthopedic Expert Witness
    • Conditions Treated
    • Payments
    • Bracing
    • Office Staff >
      • Office Manager >
        • Brian Pallone
      • Front Desk & Checkout >
        • Decatur
        • Loganville >
          • Meagan
        • Snellville >
          • Cheryl
      • Billing & Collections >
        • Maurice Jové, M.D. >
          • Buffie
        • Nathan Jové, M.D. >
          • Mayra
          • Makenzie
        • Jeff Traub, M.D. >
          • Jennifer
          • Liz
      • Scheduling >
        • Jeff Traub, M.D. >
          • Andrea
        • Maurice Jové, M.D. >
          • Rachael
        • Nathan Jové, M.D. >
          • Lindsay
        • Brian Vanderhoof, D.O. >
          • Megan
      • Radiology >
        • David
        • Rebecca
        • Carla
        • Oscar
      • Medical Records >
        • Team
    • Insurance
    • MRI
    • Medical Records >
      • Decatur
      • Loganville
      • Snellville
    • Prescription Refill Request >
      • Decatur
      • Loganville
    • Reviews
    • Affiliate Hospital Resources >
      • Emory Decatur Hospital
    • Marketing Internship
    • Job Opportunities
  • Patient Education
    • Coronavirus Update Page
    • What is an Orthopedic Doctor
    • Joint Replacement Center >
      • Arthritis Center >
        • Arthritis 101
      • Hip >
        • Anterior Hip Replacement
        • Total Hip Replacement
      • Knee >
        • Total Knee Replacement
        • Anterior Reference Knee Replacement
        • Knee Replacement Surgery Recovery
        • Partial Knee Replacement
        • Patellofemoral Replacement
        • Tourniquet-less Knee Replacement
      • Shoulder >
        • Total Shoulder Replacement
        • Reverse Total Shoulder Replacement
      • Outpatient Joint Replacement Center
      • Metal Sensitivity and Nickel Allergy
      • Revision Surgery >
        • Revision Knee Replacement
        • Revision Hip Replacement Surgery
        • Metal on Metal Hip Problems
      • Infections >
        • Hip and Knee Replacement Infections
    • Sports Medicine Program >
      • Arthroscopic Surgery
      • Shoulder >
        • Rotator Cuff Tears
        • SLAP Tears
        • Labral Tears
      • Knee >
        • Meniscus Tears
        • ACL Tears
        • Patella (Kneecap) Instability
        • Patella (Kneecap) Dislocation
      • Foot and Ankle >
        • Ankle Sprains and Instability
        • Achilles Tendon Tears
      • Concussions
    • Regenerative Medicine >
      • Stem Cell Therapy
      • Cartilage Restoration
      • PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) Injections
      • Hyaluronic Gel Injections
    • EMG
    • Hip Fracture Center
    • Hand Surgery >
      • Carpal Tunnel Sydnrome
      • Cubittal Tunnel Syndrome
      • Trigger Finger
    • Fracture (Broken Bone) Center >
      • Distal Radius Fracture
      • Ankle Fractures
    • Blood Clots After Orthopedic Surgery
    • Learning Center
    • Home Therapy
    • Video
    • Orthopedic Survey Center >
      • Outpatient Total Joint Replacement Survey
      • Painful Knee Replacement Survey
      • Painful Hip Replacement Survey
      • Rotator Cuff Surgery Survey
      • Meniscus Tear Survey
      • Partial Knee Replacement Survey
    • FAQ
    • How to Prepare and What to Expect Knee Surgery
    • Blog
  • Español
  • Online Scheduling
  • Home
  • Our Doctors
    • Maurice Jové, M.D.
    • Nathan Jové, M.D.
    • Jeff Traub, M.D.
    • Brian Vanderhoof, D.O.
    • Physician Assistants >
      • Omid Midanaky, PA-C
      • Aidan O'Connor, MPH, PA-C
      • Elissa Ricker, PA-C
  • Locations
  • Appointments
    • Online Scheduling
    • Forms
    • Referrals
    • Independent Medical Examination
    • Telemedince and E-Visits >
      • E-Visit Scheduler
    • Saturday Clinic
    • What To Expect
    • Medical Tourism
  • Our Office
    • About Us
    • Social Media >
      • Facebook
      • Instagram
      • LinkedIN
      • Twitter
      • YouTube
    • Orthopedic Expert Witness
    • Conditions Treated
    • Payments
    • Bracing
    • Office Staff >
      • Office Manager >
        • Brian Pallone
      • Front Desk & Checkout >
        • Decatur
        • Loganville >
          • Meagan
        • Snellville >
          • Cheryl
      • Billing & Collections >
        • Maurice Jové, M.D. >
          • Buffie
        • Nathan Jové, M.D. >
          • Mayra
          • Makenzie
        • Jeff Traub, M.D. >
          • Jennifer
          • Liz
      • Scheduling >
        • Jeff Traub, M.D. >
          • Andrea
        • Maurice Jové, M.D. >
          • Rachael
        • Nathan Jové, M.D. >
          • Lindsay
        • Brian Vanderhoof, D.O. >
          • Megan
      • Radiology >
        • David
        • Rebecca
        • Carla
        • Oscar
      • Medical Records >
        • Team
    • Insurance
    • MRI
    • Medical Records >
      • Decatur
      • Loganville
      • Snellville
    • Prescription Refill Request >
      • Decatur
      • Loganville
    • Reviews
    • Affiliate Hospital Resources >
      • Emory Decatur Hospital
    • Marketing Internship
    • Job Opportunities
  • Patient Education
    • Coronavirus Update Page
    • What is an Orthopedic Doctor
    • Joint Replacement Center >
      • Arthritis Center >
        • Arthritis 101
      • Hip >
        • Anterior Hip Replacement
        • Total Hip Replacement
      • Knee >
        • Total Knee Replacement
        • Anterior Reference Knee Replacement
        • Knee Replacement Surgery Recovery
        • Partial Knee Replacement
        • Patellofemoral Replacement
        • Tourniquet-less Knee Replacement
      • Shoulder >
        • Total Shoulder Replacement
        • Reverse Total Shoulder Replacement
      • Outpatient Joint Replacement Center
      • Metal Sensitivity and Nickel Allergy
      • Revision Surgery >
        • Revision Knee Replacement
        • Revision Hip Replacement Surgery
        • Metal on Metal Hip Problems
      • Infections >
        • Hip and Knee Replacement Infections
    • Sports Medicine Program >
      • Arthroscopic Surgery
      • Shoulder >
        • Rotator Cuff Tears
        • SLAP Tears
        • Labral Tears
      • Knee >
        • Meniscus Tears
        • ACL Tears
        • Patella (Kneecap) Instability
        • Patella (Kneecap) Dislocation
      • Foot and Ankle >
        • Ankle Sprains and Instability
        • Achilles Tendon Tears
      • Concussions
    • Regenerative Medicine >
      • Stem Cell Therapy
      • Cartilage Restoration
      • PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) Injections
      • Hyaluronic Gel Injections
    • EMG
    • Hip Fracture Center
    • Hand Surgery >
      • Carpal Tunnel Sydnrome
      • Cubittal Tunnel Syndrome
      • Trigger Finger
    • Fracture (Broken Bone) Center >
      • Distal Radius Fracture
      • Ankle Fractures
    • Blood Clots After Orthopedic Surgery
    • Learning Center
    • Home Therapy
    • Video
    • Orthopedic Survey Center >
      • Outpatient Total Joint Replacement Survey
      • Painful Knee Replacement Survey
      • Painful Hip Replacement Survey
      • Rotator Cuff Surgery Survey
      • Meniscus Tear Survey
      • Partial Knee Replacement Survey
    • FAQ
    • How to Prepare and What to Expect Knee Surgery
    • Blog
  • Español
  • Online Scheduling

DON'T HOPE THAT YOUR DOCTOR IS PRACTICING THE MOST CURRENT TECHNIQUES. 
KNOW THEY ARE. 
READ OUR BLOG TO SEE HOW OUR DOCTORS ARE KEEPING YOU UP TO DATE!

Ankle Sprain vs. Broken Ankle: How to Spot the Difference and Get the Treatment You Need

8/12/2022

2 Comments

 
Picture
Knowing if you have broken or sprained your ankle is crucial to the healing process. In general, sprains are less serious and heal faster, but they still need medical attention. Fractures have a longer recovery, but they are less likely to heal on their own. If your injury is a fracture, you’ll need surgery to put a plate on the bone.

What Is an Ankle Sprain?

An ankle sprain is the most common type of injury to the joint. It can result from a direct blow or twisting your ankle. The most common sprain happens in the ligaments near the ankle joint. This can be in one of two places. Either the ligament will tear or the joint will be seriously overstretched.

The ligaments keep the bones in place during walking, running, and other physical activities. When you do something strenuous, your ligaments are put under a lot of stress. This can cause the ligament to tear or stretch too much. It’s also possible that you sprained your ankle because of poor shoes, slippery or uneven surfaces, or landing in a certain way.

When the ligament is torn, the tibia and fibula will rotate or shift out of place. If this happens, you will have severe pain and swelling. Depending on what ligament was torn, your ankle will turn outwards or inwards.

Here are the symptoms of an ankle sprain:
  • Pain
  • Swelling
  • Bruising
  • Tenderness
  • Instability
  • Restricted range of motion
  • Popping sensation

Treating Ankle Sprains

Although it may be tempting to put your foot back on the ground, you need to avoid moving your ankle. Moving it while it’s swollen or bruised can make it worse. If you feel pain when you move your ankle, you should see a doctor.

Apply ice to the injury as much as possible. It will help bring down swelling and relieve pain. You can also put a compression wrap on your ankle. This will hold it in place and keep the joint stable.

You can take over-the-counter pain medications for inflammation. You can also take acetaminophen if the pain is too severe. When you’ve been injured, it’s also important to rest as much as possible.

What Is a Broken Ankle?

An ankle fracture is a break of one or more of the bones of the ankle. It can be any of the bones in the foot, but most commonly it is the tibia or fibula. An ankle fracture is less common than a sprain, but it comes with much more severe symptoms.

When you break your ankle, it is more likely to be serious and more difficult to heal. When a fracture happens, the force is too much for the fibula or tibia. This can cause pieces of the bone to break off entirely, or it can cause the bone to bend or flex in the wrong way.

Here are the symptoms of a broken ankle:
  • Immediate sharp pain (often more painful than a sprain)
  • Bruising
  • Swelling
  • Tenderness
  • A visible deformity (especially if your ankle is also dislocated)
  • Trouble bearing weight on your foot

Treating a Broken Ankle

If you break your ankle, you will need to go to the emergency room. If you have an obvious deformity, you’ll need to have x-rays taken and be examined by your doctor.

If you do have a broken ankle, then the treatment will likely involve a closed reduction, surgery, physical therapy, temporary immobilization using a cast, and some pain relievers to help manage the pain during your recovery. 

The Bottom Line: The Importance of Knowing the Difference Between an Ankle Sprain and a Broken Ankle

While both of these injuries can be serious, a broken ankle requires much more time to recover after the initial injury. And, a broken ankle is more likely to require surgery in order to put the broken pieces of bone back into place.

If you suspect that you’ve broken your ankle, you should see a doctor right away. In general, it is better to err on the side of caution. While it’s important to know the difference between an ankle sprain and a broken ankle, it’s more important to get the right treatment after the injury.

Are You Looking for a Decatur Orthopedic Center in Atlanta, USA?
​

Our bone and joint specialists can help you with your broken ankle and other needs. Contact Atlanta Bone and Joint Specialists to learn more about our services or to schedule an appointment!
2 Comments
Eve Mitchell link
9/12/2022 04:13:11 pm

It's good to know that applying ice to the ankle can help if it's a sprain. My daughter was ice skating yesterday and she fell really awkwardly. I'm worried that her ankle is sprained so we've been icing it, but she needs to go to the urgent care.

Reply
Daisy James link
1/26/2023 04:08:27 pm

It's good to know that swelling and bruising are signs of a sprained ankle. For the past couple of days now, my ankle has been very bruised ever since I twisted it while running, so I was wondering what could be the issue so I can look into getting it treated. I'll have to look into finding an urgent care center to go to so my ankle can be treated properly.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    March 2022
    January 2022
    November 2021
    May 2021
    March 2020
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017

    Categories

    All
    AAOS
    AAOS 2018
    Advanced Technology
    Anterior Hip Replacement
    Aspirin
    Atlanta
    Atlanta Bone And Joint
    Atlanta Bone And Joint Specialists
    Blood Clots
    Bmi
    Broken Hip
    Ceramics In Orthopedics
    Chronic Hip Pain
    Chronic Knee Pain
    Cigarettes
    Cobalt Chrome Levels Elevated
    Complications From Hip Surgery
    DVT
    EBM
    Evidence Based Medicine
    Hip Dislocation
    Hip Fracture
    Hip Fracture Program
    Hip Pain
    Hip Replacement
    Hip Surgery
    Hip Surgery For Broken Hip
    Innovation
    Joint Replacement
    Knee Pain
    Knee Pain After Knee Replacement
    Knee Replacement
    Knee Surgery
    Metal Allergy
    Metal Sensitivity
    Minimally Invasive
    Minimally Invasive Hip Replacement
    Nathan Jove
    New Employment
    Orthopaedic
    Orthopaedics
    Orthopaedic Surgery
    Orthopedic
    Orthopedic Meeting
    Orthopedics
    Orthopedic Surgery
    Outpatient Hip Replacement
    Outpatient Knee Replacement
    Physicians Assistant
    Posterior Hip Replacement
    Reason Why Knee Replacement Failure
    Safe Surgery
    Surgery

    RSS Feed

​
​
​
Picture
  • Prior blood clot or pulmonary embolus
    • the #1 predictor of having another clot
  • Factor 5 Leiden
  • Von Willdebrands disease
  • Venous Statsis
  • Extensive immobilization after surgery
  • Lower Extremity surgery
  • Oral Contraceptive Birth Control

Click To Add Text

​

​Call to Schedule Your Appointment Today
SE HABLA ESPAÑOL!


Office Hours

Mon-Fri: 9AM-5PM  


Telephone

Decatur                             404.296.5005
Loganville                         770.564.3393
Snellville                           770.985.9330

High School Football Season Added Coverage Hours

Saturdays During High School Football Season
Injury Clinic is for INJURED PLAYERS ONLY.
Snellville
ONLY.
9AM-10AM