Ankle-tastic: Ankle Avulsion Fracture

Posted by Jenn F. on Sunday, June 17th, 2012

Ankles! So important to every step we take, yet so easy to really mess up. Today we are here to talk about one of those types of mess-ups:  ankle avulsion fractures.

Ankle what? I thought you’d say that, so let’s look at the unfamiliar word between our familiar friends “ankle” and “fractures.”

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Definition of avulsion from the Merriam-Webster Dictionary:

a forcible separation or detachment: as

Fun facts about avulsion: It was first used in 1622! It rhymes with compulsion! The word before it in the dictionary is avuncular!

So I’m guessing that this has something to do with something tearing away in the ankle. Brilliant! Avulsion fractures can happen anywhere in the body, but the ankle is one of the most common areas.

When you twist your ankle, you most likely will tear some of the ligaments, resulting in an ankle sprain. Sometimes, though, the twist can be so severe that the ligament pulls away a small section of the bone to which it is attached. Children are particularly vulnerable to avulsion fractures because some of their ligaments are attached to growth plates, which aren’t as solid as mature bone.

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Oww, that sounds painful. Oh, yeah, it is.

But how do I know I don’t just have a sprained ankle? What are the symptoms of an avulsion fracture? If your ankle is very painful and swollen, perhaps with bruising, and it hurts when you try to put weight on it, then the injury is bad enough that you should have it checked out so you can have the right kind of treatment. A podiatrist at The Center for Podiatric Care and Sports Medicine (212.996.1900) will take some X-rays to determine whether it’s an avulsion fracture or bad sprain.

What happens if it is an avulsion fracture? In most cases, you can treat an avulsion fracture like an ankle sprain: rest, ice, compression, anti-inflammatories for pain (some people also recover by running races…yikes). If it’s severe, or if a child has suffered the injury, your podiatrist may put your ankle in a cast for 6-8 weeks, followed by rehab to help restore the full range of motion in your ankle.

Image: blog.tarlowknee.com

With children, there is also concern that the growth plate might have been pulled out of place, which would then affect future growth of that bone. If the growth place is out of alignment, surgery may be necessary to correct its position and stabilize it.

Hopefully you’ll never have a need to amaze your podiatrist by spouting off fun facts about the word “avulsion” after you’ve been given a diagnosis of ankle avulsion fracture. If, however, you have an ankle or foot injury, contact The Center for Podiatric Care and Sports Medicine. Dr. Josef J. Geldwert, Dr. Katherine Lai, and Dr. Ryan Minara have helped thousands of people get back on their feet.

If you have any foot problems or pain, contact The Center for Podiatric Care and Sports Medicine. Dr. Josef J. Geldwert, Dr. Katherine Lai, and Dr. Ryan Minara have helped thousands of people get back on their feet. Unfortunately, we cannot give diagnoses or treatment advice online. Please make an appointment to see us if you live in the NY metropolitan area or seek out a podiatrist in your area.

4 Responses to “Ankle-tastic: Ankle Avulsion Fracture”

1. Joanne Tailford says:

   November 26, 2012 at 12:31 am

   Hello,

   10 days ago I fell. A trip to A&E revealed I have an avulsion fracture of the anterior talus bone. My surgeon gave me crutches and a removable moonboot and discharged me to the physiotherapy department.

   My foot is looking a lot better and the swelling has gone to the point where I can make out the shape if my ankle! I’m just wondering what distance is too far to go without wearing my boot at this point in my recovery? I feel much better in that I can weight bare just about fully and the pain has subsided too. How long does it take for the chipped bone to realign and reattach fully? My exercises at the moment consist of writing the alphabet with my big toe 3 times a day, apply some ice for 30 mins and then back into my moonboot.

   Reply
2. Lynda Longfield says:

   February 27, 2013 at 6:17 am

   I stepped off the third step in my house and landed directly on my right foot. This happened in Sept 2012 it is now the end of Feb 2013 and I’m in horrible pain.I have an avulsion fracture, sprain, streched ligament and torn tendon.The doctor is now trying steriods & more physical therapy. Does anyone have any suggestions or think that I should change doctors since it is almost 6 months and I’m still unable to walk more then several feet at a time and still in a lot of pain? Has anyone had surger for any of these types of injuries. The pain is all the way up my leg and into my hip.

   Reply
3. Lynda Longfield says:

   February 27, 2013 at 6:19 am

   I stepped off the third step in my house and landed directly on my right foot. This happened in Sept 2012 it is now the end of Feb 2013 and I’m in horrible pain.I have an avulsion fracture, sprain, streched ligament and torn tendon.The doctor is now trying steriods & more physical therapy. Does anyone have any suggestions or think that I should change doctors since it is almost 6 months and I’m still unable to walk more then several feet at a time and still in a lot of pain? Has anyone had surgery for any of these types of injuries. The pain is all the way up my leg and into my hip.

   Reply
4. Patricia says:

   April 3, 2013 at 1:53 pm

   It’s been a year since my ankle was casted for an avulsion fracture. I did PT following that and was released from care last May. The ankle felt pretty good! Over the next six months, I walked the treadmill with no side effects. In January, I went back to low impact aerobics but after a couple of sessions, the ankle became sore and I quit doing it. I noticed last night that it was a little swollen so I put ice on it. How long will it take to completely heal? Do you think I should see my orthopedic for a one-year checkup?

   Reply