Aside from pain, broken ankle symptoms may not be obvious. Your ankle may be bruised andswollen, and you may have trouble bearing weight on it. However, without anX-rayor other special imaging, it can be tough to tell if an ankle is broken, sprained, or even dislocated.
This article explains how to tell if your ankle is broken.
1Joint DeformityThis photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoLeslie AntonisThe term joint deformity refers to an alteration in the natural shape of a bone or joint—in this case, the ankle. Joint deformities can be congenital, meaning that a person is born with it, or they can be acquired, for example, when the ankle is broken or dislocated.Your ankle may seem deformed or twisted at an odd angle if it is severely swollen. A broken bone may also be visibly misshapen if it is partially or totally displaced and protruding from its normal position.2BruisingThis photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoLeslie AntonisBruising is another common sign of a broken ankle.Bruising or discoloration is from blood. Usually, blood is contained in the blood vessels (arteries and veins). After an injury, blood leaks out of the blood vessels and pools in the flesh and muscle, where you can see it.There’s one more sign commonly associated with broken bones:crepitus.Crepitus can’t be seen, but it can befelt. It’s the broken bits of bone grinding on each other with movement or manipulation of the injury. To the person feeling for it, it can be described as a bag of gravel.3SwellingToa55 / Getty ImagesOne way to tell if an ankle is broken orsprainedis to observe how quickly it swells. Typically, an ankle that is sprained will swell gradually, while an ankle that is broken will swell immediately. Also, compared to a sprained ankle, inflammation in a broken ankle tends to be more severe.It can take weeks for the swelling to go down and return to normal, and even longer if you do not give your ankle the rest and stabilization that it needs to recover.4Intense PainFatCamera / Getty ImagesA broken ankle will cause immediate, severe pain. Often described as sharp or shooting, the pain may shoot up from your ankle toward your knee, or down into your foot. The pain will also intensify if you try to bear weight on your ankle.5Inability to Bear Weightediebloom / Getty ImagesThe immediate swelling and sharp pain from an ankle break actually serve an important purpose: to get you off of your foot as soon as possible. In most cases, a person with a broken ankle will fall right to the ground upon injury, and will have immense pain and difficulty if they try to bear weight on the ankle after that.If a healthcare provider diagnoses you with an ankle fracture, they will likely place your foot and ankle in acast. The cast, along with a mobility aid (i.e.,crutchesor wheelchair), will function to keep your ankle stable and prevent you from placing weight on it until it is completely healed.
1Joint DeformityThis photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoLeslie AntonisThe term joint deformity refers to an alteration in the natural shape of a bone or joint—in this case, the ankle. Joint deformities can be congenital, meaning that a person is born with it, or they can be acquired, for example, when the ankle is broken or dislocated.Your ankle may seem deformed or twisted at an odd angle if it is severely swollen. A broken bone may also be visibly misshapen if it is partially or totally displaced and protruding from its normal position.
1
Joint DeformityThis photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoLeslie AntonisThe term joint deformity refers to an alteration in the natural shape of a bone or joint—in this case, the ankle. Joint deformities can be congenital, meaning that a person is born with it, or they can be acquired, for example, when the ankle is broken or dislocated.Your ankle may seem deformed or twisted at an odd angle if it is severely swollen. A broken bone may also be visibly misshapen if it is partially or totally displaced and protruding from its normal position.
Joint Deformity
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoLeslie Antonis
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See Photo
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.
The term joint deformity refers to an alteration in the natural shape of a bone or joint—in this case, the ankle. Joint deformities can be congenital, meaning that a person is born with it, or they can be acquired, for example, when the ankle is broken or dislocated.
Your ankle may seem deformed or twisted at an odd angle if it is severely swollen. A broken bone may also be visibly misshapen if it is partially or totally displaced and protruding from its normal position.
2BruisingThis photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoLeslie AntonisBruising is another common sign of a broken ankle.Bruising or discoloration is from blood. Usually, blood is contained in the blood vessels (arteries and veins). After an injury, blood leaks out of the blood vessels and pools in the flesh and muscle, where you can see it.There’s one more sign commonly associated with broken bones:crepitus.Crepitus can’t be seen, but it can befelt. It’s the broken bits of bone grinding on each other with movement or manipulation of the injury. To the person feeling for it, it can be described as a bag of gravel.
2
BruisingThis photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoLeslie AntonisBruising is another common sign of a broken ankle.Bruising or discoloration is from blood. Usually, blood is contained in the blood vessels (arteries and veins). After an injury, blood leaks out of the blood vessels and pools in the flesh and muscle, where you can see it.There’s one more sign commonly associated with broken bones:crepitus.Crepitus can’t be seen, but it can befelt. It’s the broken bits of bone grinding on each other with movement or manipulation of the injury. To the person feeling for it, it can be described as a bag of gravel.
Bruising
Bruising is another common sign of a broken ankle.
Bruising or discoloration is from blood. Usually, blood is contained in the blood vessels (arteries and veins). After an injury, blood leaks out of the blood vessels and pools in the flesh and muscle, where you can see it.
There’s one more sign commonly associated with broken bones:crepitus.Crepitus can’t be seen, but it can befelt. It’s the broken bits of bone grinding on each other with movement or manipulation of the injury. To the person feeling for it, it can be described as a bag of gravel.
3SwellingToa55 / Getty ImagesOne way to tell if an ankle is broken orsprainedis to observe how quickly it swells. Typically, an ankle that is sprained will swell gradually, while an ankle that is broken will swell immediately. Also, compared to a sprained ankle, inflammation in a broken ankle tends to be more severe.It can take weeks for the swelling to go down and return to normal, and even longer if you do not give your ankle the rest and stabilization that it needs to recover.
3
SwellingToa55 / Getty ImagesOne way to tell if an ankle is broken orsprainedis to observe how quickly it swells. Typically, an ankle that is sprained will swell gradually, while an ankle that is broken will swell immediately. Also, compared to a sprained ankle, inflammation in a broken ankle tends to be more severe.It can take weeks for the swelling to go down and return to normal, and even longer if you do not give your ankle the rest and stabilization that it needs to recover.
Swelling
Toa55 / Getty Images
One way to tell if an ankle is broken orsprainedis to observe how quickly it swells. Typically, an ankle that is sprained will swell gradually, while an ankle that is broken will swell immediately. Also, compared to a sprained ankle, inflammation in a broken ankle tends to be more severe.
It can take weeks for the swelling to go down and return to normal, and even longer if you do not give your ankle the rest and stabilization that it needs to recover.
4Intense PainFatCamera / Getty ImagesA broken ankle will cause immediate, severe pain. Often described as sharp or shooting, the pain may shoot up from your ankle toward your knee, or down into your foot. The pain will also intensify if you try to bear weight on your ankle.
4
Intense PainFatCamera / Getty ImagesA broken ankle will cause immediate, severe pain. Often described as sharp or shooting, the pain may shoot up from your ankle toward your knee, or down into your foot. The pain will also intensify if you try to bear weight on your ankle.
Intense Pain
FatCamera / Getty Images
A broken ankle will cause immediate, severe pain. Often described as sharp or shooting, the pain may shoot up from your ankle toward your knee, or down into your foot. The pain will also intensify if you try to bear weight on your ankle.
5Inability to Bear Weightediebloom / Getty ImagesThe immediate swelling and sharp pain from an ankle break actually serve an important purpose: to get you off of your foot as soon as possible. In most cases, a person with a broken ankle will fall right to the ground upon injury, and will have immense pain and difficulty if they try to bear weight on the ankle after that.If a healthcare provider diagnoses you with an ankle fracture, they will likely place your foot and ankle in acast. The cast, along with a mobility aid (i.e.,crutchesor wheelchair), will function to keep your ankle stable and prevent you from placing weight on it until it is completely healed.
5
Inability to Bear Weightediebloom / Getty ImagesThe immediate swelling and sharp pain from an ankle break actually serve an important purpose: to get you off of your foot as soon as possible. In most cases, a person with a broken ankle will fall right to the ground upon injury, and will have immense pain and difficulty if they try to bear weight on the ankle after that.If a healthcare provider diagnoses you with an ankle fracture, they will likely place your foot and ankle in acast. The cast, along with a mobility aid (i.e.,crutchesor wheelchair), will function to keep your ankle stable and prevent you from placing weight on it until it is completely healed.
Inability to Bear Weight
ediebloom / Getty Images
The immediate swelling and sharp pain from an ankle break actually serve an important purpose: to get you off of your foot as soon as possible. In most cases, a person with a broken ankle will fall right to the ground upon injury, and will have immense pain and difficulty if they try to bear weight on the ankle after that.
If a healthcare provider diagnoses you with an ankle fracture, they will likely place your foot and ankle in acast. The cast, along with a mobility aid (i.e.,crutchesor wheelchair), will function to keep your ankle stable and prevent you from placing weight on it until it is completely healed.
A Word From Verywell
—ANITA C. CHANDRASEKARAN, MD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
Summary
A broken ankle usually causes immediate, severe symptoms. Upon injury, there is typically a sharp pain that may shoot toward the knee or foot. The ankle and surrounding tissues will quickly become inflamed, making it unbearable to place any body weight on the ankle. A broken ankle that is grossly swollen or that has a protruding bone may also appear deformed.
5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Hospital for Special Surgery.Ankle fractures (broken ankle).American Academy of Orthopaedic SurgeonsAnkle fractures (broken ankle).Inklebarger J, Rimbault MT, Joshi T, Whitehouse K.The TOAST (Traction On Ankle Stress Test): a supplemental clinical and dynamic ultrasound examination approach for focal assessment of axial ankle joint instability.Int J Med Sci and Clin Invent. 2021;8(06):5442-5446. doi:10.18535/ijmsci/v8i06.02Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine.Broken ankle or a sprain?.YaleMedicine.Broken ankle (ankle fracture).
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Hospital for Special Surgery.Ankle fractures (broken ankle).American Academy of Orthopaedic SurgeonsAnkle fractures (broken ankle).Inklebarger J, Rimbault MT, Joshi T, Whitehouse K.The TOAST (Traction On Ankle Stress Test): a supplemental clinical and dynamic ultrasound examination approach for focal assessment of axial ankle joint instability.Int J Med Sci and Clin Invent. 2021;8(06):5442-5446. doi:10.18535/ijmsci/v8i06.02Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine.Broken ankle or a sprain?.YaleMedicine.Broken ankle (ankle fracture).
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Hospital for Special Surgery.Ankle fractures (broken ankle).American Academy of Orthopaedic SurgeonsAnkle fractures (broken ankle).Inklebarger J, Rimbault MT, Joshi T, Whitehouse K.The TOAST (Traction On Ankle Stress Test): a supplemental clinical and dynamic ultrasound examination approach for focal assessment of axial ankle joint instability.Int J Med Sci and Clin Invent. 2021;8(06):5442-5446. doi:10.18535/ijmsci/v8i06.02Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine.Broken ankle or a sprain?.YaleMedicine.Broken ankle (ankle fracture).
Hospital for Special Surgery.Ankle fractures (broken ankle).
American Academy of Orthopaedic SurgeonsAnkle fractures (broken ankle).
Inklebarger J, Rimbault MT, Joshi T, Whitehouse K.The TOAST (Traction On Ankle Stress Test): a supplemental clinical and dynamic ultrasound examination approach for focal assessment of axial ankle joint instability.Int J Med Sci and Clin Invent. 2021;8(06):5442-5446. doi:10.18535/ijmsci/v8i06.02
Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine.Broken ankle or a sprain?.
YaleMedicine.Broken ankle (ankle fracture).
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