Common foot & ankle concerns we treat
- Pain that limits walking, standing, or sleep
- Stiffness, swelling, or reduced range of motion
- Sports injuries — acute or overuse
- Arthritis or post-traumatic joint changes
- Conditions other doctors couldn’t resolve
Foot & Ankle · Conditions A–Z
Ankle Fracture broken ankle
An ankle fracture is a break in one or more of the bones that form the ankle joint — the fibula, the tibia, or both. Our foot and ankle specialists offer same-day or next-week evaluations with on-site X-rays across eight LA-area offices.
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Experts in foot & ankle care.
Surgical and non-surgical options at LAOSS.
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What sets LAOSS apart
- Same- or next-day appointments at eight Los Angeles–area offices
- On-site imaging; PT coordinated with your in-network provider
- Conservative-first care, surgery only when needed
- Board-certified specialists, not generalists
Key takeaways
- An ankle fracture is a break in the bones of the ankle joint — most commonly the fibula (lateral malleolus), sometimes the tibia or both, and occasionally with ligament injury.
- Stable, well-aligned fractures often heal with immobilization in a cast or boot and protected weight-bearing — no surgery needed.
- Displaced or unstable fractures usually need surgery (ORIF) with plates and screws to realign the joint and lower the risk of later arthritis.
- On-site X-rays and prompt evaluation across eight Los Angeles-area offices help confirm the break and start the right plan quickly.
Overview
What is ankle fracture?
An ankle fracture is a break in one or more of the bones that meet at the ankle: the lower end of the fibula (the lateral malleolus on the outside) and the lower end of the tibia, which forms the medial malleolus on the inside, the posterior malleolus at the back, and the weight-bearing roof of the joint. A fracture may involve one of these areas or a combination. Breaks range from a simple, hairline crack in one bone to unstable injuries involving two or three areas, sometimes with a torn ligament that lets the joint shift out of place.\n\nNot every broken ankle needs surgery. When the bones are still lined up and the joint is stable, immobilization in a cast or walking boot and a gradual return to weight-bearing often allow the fracture to heal well. When the joint is displaced or unstable, surgery is usually recommended to restore precise alignment — even small gaps in the ankle joint surface can lead to stiffness and arthritis later.\n\nBelow we explain the anatomy of the ankle, the symptoms and causes we most often see, how we confirm the diagnosis with imaging, and the full range of treatment options — from casting and boot immobilization to surgical fixation — so you know what to expect.
Patient education
Watch: Ankle Fracture Surgery
This surgery fixes an unstable break in your ankle. The break could be in the small bone of your lower leg, called the "fibula" or the larger bone, called the "tibia." Sometimes, they're both broken. Your surgeon will stabilize your bones so your ankle can heal.
Animations licensed from ViewMedica · Swarm Interactive
Anatomy of the foot & ankle — tibia, talus, calcaneus, metatarsals, and the plantar fascia.
Anatomy
Inside the foot & ankle.
The foot and ankle have 26 bones, more than 30 joints, and over 100 ligaments and tendons. The plantar fascia spans the bottom of the foot, the Achilles tendon anchors the calf to the heel, and the ankle is a hinge that handles every step you take. Most foot and ankle problems trace back to overload, alignment, or footwear that doesn’t match the way your foot is built.
Self-orient
When ankle fracture shows up.
Symptoms
Common symptoms
- Sudden, severe ankle pain right after a fall, twist, or rolling injury
- Inability or unwillingness to put weight on the foot
- Rapid swelling and bruising around the ankle
- Tenderness directly over the ankle bone (the bony bump on either side)
- Visible deformity or the ankle looking out of place in severe breaks
- A crack or snap felt or heard at the moment of injury
Causes
Common causes
- Rolling, twisting, or rotating the ankle beyond its normal range
- Falls — including tripping, missing a step, or landing awkwardly
- Sports involving cutting, jumping, or contact (basketball, soccer, football)
- Motor vehicle or high-energy accidents, which tend to cause more complex fractures
- Missteps off curbs or uneven surfaces
- Weakened bone from osteoporosis, raising fracture risk from minor injuries
Diagnostics
How we diagnose ankle fracture
You want answers, fast — and we’re built to give them. Most patients leave their first LAOSS visit with a clear diagnosis and a written plan, not another referral chain.
Here’s what your initial visit for ankle fracture typically looks like:
- Detailed history — when it started, what makes it better or worse, what you’ve already tried
- Focused exam of the foot & ankle — range of motion, stability, strength, specific provocation tests
- On-site imaging at most offices: X-ray for bone, ultrasound or MRI when soft-tissue detail is needed
- A written plan with options ranging from conservative care to surgical procedures, in plain English
Schedule your evaluation with a trusted Greater Los Angeles orthopedic expert today.
Treatment options
How we treat ankle fracture at LAOSS
Once we’ve confirmed the diagnosis, the next step is matching the right treatment to your situation. We start with the least-invasive option that fits — and escalate only when it doesn’t.
Conservative care
Step 1Conservative care first
Non-surgical options designed to relieve pain, restore movement, and avoid the OR when possible.
- Immobilization in a cast, splint, or walking boot to hold the bones in place
- Protected weight-bearing with crutches, a knee scooter, or boot as healing allows
- Closed reduction — realigning displaced bones without surgery when feasible
- RICE (rest, ice, compression, elevation) and pain control in the early days
- Serial X-rays to confirm the fracture stays aligned while it heals
- Physical therapy to restore motion, strength, and balance once the bone is healed
Surgical care
When neededSurgical options when needed
Procedures performed by board-certified foot & ankle surgeons when conservative care isn’t enough.
- Open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) with plates and screws to realign and stabilize the joint
- Lag screw or tension-band fixation for isolated malleolar fractures
- Syndesmosis fixation (screw or suture-button) when the ligament between the tibia and fibula is disrupted
- Posterior malleolus fixation when a sizable back fragment affects joint stability
- External fixation as a temporary stabilizer for severe swelling, open, or high-energy fractures
- Hardware removal in select cases if implants cause irritation after healing
Surgeon expertise
Why experience matters.
Why experience matters
Foot & Ankle care is highly technique-dependent. Volume, training, and judgment together determine the outcome you actually feel six months later.
- Precise diagnosis from imaging and exam
- Conservative-first care that avoids unnecessary surgery
- Surgical technique refined over thousands of cases
- On-site imaging + coordinated PT through your in-network provider
The LAOSS approach
Our foot & ankle specialists move stepwise — start with the least-invasive option that fits your situation, escalate only when it doesn't.
- Same-day imaging at most offices
- PT coordinated in your insurance network
- Board-certified surgeons performing the procedures themselves
- Direct access to your specialist between visits
Candidacy
Am I a candidate?
If most of these match your situation, an evaluation with a foot & ankle specialist is the next step.
You may be
You may be a candidate if
These signs typically point toward an in-person evaluation with a foot & ankle specialist.
- You felt or heard a crack and now cannot bear weight on the ankle
- Severe swelling, bruising, and tenderness directly over the ankle bone after a twist or fall
- An urgent-care X-ray showed a fracture and you need a specialist to guide treatment
- Pain and instability that haven't improved several days after a significant ankle injury
- Go to the ER first for an open fracture (bone through the skin), a grossly deformed ankle, or a foot that is numb, cold, or dusky — these need emergency care, not a routine visit
Evaluation
What evaluation includes
Your first visit is built to give you an answer the same day, not just another referral.
- Detailed history — onset, mechanism, what makes it better or worse
- Hands-on exam focused on the affected joint or region
- On-site imaging at most offices (X-ray, ultrasound)
- Clear plan with options ranging from conservative to surgical
- Same-day or next-day scheduling for any follow-up tests
ImportantSeek urgent evaluation for sudden severe pain, an open wound or exposed bone, foot or ankle deformity after trauma, loss of sensation, or any sign of infection (fever, spreading redness, or swelling).
Recovery
Your foot & ankle recovery roadmap.
Recovery is rarely a straight line — but a clear plan with measurable milestones makes the path predictable.
01Days 0–14
Right after care
In the first two weeks we focus on protecting the foot & ankle, calming inflammation, and restoring basic motion.
- Activity modification with clear do/don’t guidance
- Ice, elevation, and pain control as needed
- Gentle range-of-motion within safe limits
- Follow-up scheduled to track healing
02Weeks 2–8
Rehabilitation
Targeted physical therapy rebuilds strength, mobility, and confidence in the foot & ankle.
- Progressive strengthening and neuromuscular work
- Manual therapy and soft-tissue treatment
- Sport- or job-specific movement re-training
- Coordinated PT through your in-network provider
03Months 2+
Long-term care
Once function is restored, the focus shifts to keeping you there — and catching any recurrence early.
- Return-to-activity plan with measured benchmarks
- Home program tailored to your sport or job
- Maintenance visits or imaging if symptoms change
- Direct line back to your specialist if needed
Risks & considerations
What to weigh before you decide.
We talk through the risks and benefits with every patient — informed consent is a conversation, not a form.
General
General considerations
Every orthopedic intervention carries a small set of standard risks. We screen, prepare, and monitor for these on every patient.
- Infection (rare with modern technique and prophylaxis)
- Bleeding or bruising at the treatment site
- Reaction to anesthesia or medications
- Need for additional procedures in some cases
Specific
Foot & Ankle-specific considerations
Some risks are tied to the structures we're treating in the foot & ankle. We discuss these in detail at your visit so you can weigh them against the benefits.
- Temporary stiffness or weakness during recovery
- Incomplete pain relief in a small percentage of cases
- Nerve or vessel irritation near the treatment area
- Need for follow-up therapy to fully restore function
Your care team
Meet our foot & ankle doctors in the Greater Los Angeles area
At LAOSS, our foot & ankle specialists combine advanced surgical expertise with a patient-first approach. From minimally invasive arthroscopic techniques to reconstruction, fracture care, and arthritis management, our physicians bring decades of experience to every case. Trusted across Los Angeles, our team is dedicated to restoring mobility, relieving pain, and helping you return to the activities you love.
Specialists
Meet your foot & ankle specialists.
4 providers
About this care
Prompt, expert ankle fracture care close to home
A broken ankle is painful and disruptive, but with the right care most people heal fully and return to walking, work, and the activities they love. At LAOSS, our foot and ankle specialists evaluate your injury, confirm the fracture with on-site X-rays, and explain in plain English whether your break needs a cast and boot or surgical repair — and why.\n\nWith same-day or next-week appointments at eight Los Angeles-area offices, you can get answers when timing matters most. From the first visit through immobilization, any surgery, and physical therapy coordinated with your in-network provider, you'll have a clear plan and a direct line to your specialist at every step.
Patient reviews
What patients say about us.
★★★★★4.97,500+ Google reviews
Wonderful staff. The MA was so kind to my elderly mom and the doctor explained everything twice so she’d remember. Felt like we were treated like family.
Patricia Aguilar
Cerritos, CA · 6 January 2025
FAQ
Common ankle fracture questions
- No. Stable fractures where the bones stay well-aligned often heal with a cast or walking boot and protected weight-bearing. Surgery is usually reserved for displaced or unstable breaks, where plates and screws are needed to restore the joint surface precisely.
- Most ankle fractures take roughly six to eight weeks for the bone to heal, whether treated with a boot or with surgery. Returning to full activity and sports often takes a few months longer as strength, motion, and balance are rebuilt through physical therapy.
- We start with a focused exam and an on-site X-ray, which confirms most fractures and shows whether the bones are aligned. A CT scan is occasionally added for complex breaks involving the joint surface, and an MRI may be used if a ligament or hidden fracture is suspected.
- You should avoid putting weight on it until a specialist evaluates the injury, since walking on an unstable fracture can shift the bones out of place. Your doctor will tell you when and how much weight-bearing is safe — often using crutches, a knee scooter, or a boot at first.
Ready when you are
Don’t wait on pain.
Book a visit with a foot & ankle specialist at any of our eight Los Angeles–area offices.
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