Least Effective Exercises Slideshow

Medical Author:

John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP

John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP

John P. Cunha, DO, is a U.S. board-certified Emergency Medicine Physician. Dr. Cunha's educational background includes a BS in Biology from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, and a DO from the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences in Kansas City, MO. He completed residency training in Emergency Medicine at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center in Newark, New Jersey.

View Full Profile

Medical Editor:

Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD

Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD

Dr. Charles "Pat" Davis, MD, PhD, is a board certified Emergency Medicine doctor who currently practices as a consultant and staff member for hospitals. He has a PhD in Microbiology (UT at Austin), and the MD (Univ. Texas Medical Branch, Galveston). He is a Clinical Professor (retired) in the Division of Emergency Medicine, UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, and has been the Chief of Emergency Medicine at UT Medical Branch and at UTHSCSA with over 250 publications.

View Full Profile

Broken Ankle Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of ankle injuries and fractures tend to be obvious.

• Pain is the most common complaint.
  • Often the pain will not come from the exact area of the fracture.
  • The person may experience associated fractures of the foot (especially on the side of the small toe) or knee that also cause pain similar to ankle pain.
  • It is usually pain in the ankle that stops individuals from walking.
• Swelling frequently occurs around the ankle.
  • Swelling suggests either soft tissue damage with possible blood around the joint or fluid within the joint itself, most likely blood.
  • When blood is in the joint, it is called hemarthrosis.
• A person may see bruising around the joint, although not immediately. The bruising can track down toward the sole of the foot or toward the toes.
• In severe fractures, there may be obvious deformities of bones around the ankle.
  • Skin may be stretched over an underlying broken bone.
  • Bone may be exposed.
• If people injure nerves or blood vessels that supply to the foot, there may be more pain along with pale skin in the foot, numbness, or inability to move the foot or toes.