An ankle fracture is a break of one of or both your ankle bones.
An ankle fracture is usually caused by a twisting injury to your ankle, resulting from sports or a simple trip or fall. There may be a break of a bone on the outer side of your ankle (fibula), the inner side (tibia) or both sides.
Sometimes the injury causes the bone to break through your skin. This is known as an open or compound fracture. There may also be damage to your ankle ligaments.
Benefits of surgery
The aim of surgery is that your bones heal in a good position. If the bones heal in an inncorrect position, you are more likely to get stiffness and arthritis in the future.
Surgery alternatives
If your ankle bones are in a good position, it may be possible to treat a fracture using a cast or a walker boot. If the bones do not go back into place or come out of place later, it is usually best to have an operation to fix your fracture.