Denton County Living Well Magazine January/February 2020 | Page 17

FOR MANY, WINTER IS FALL SEASON
Courtesy Complete Foot and Ankle Care
of North Texas
I
cy conditions cause falls and broken ankles. With the
hectic pace of the holidays, serious injuries from ice-re-
lated falls inevitably occur. Falls on icy surfaces are a
major cause of ankle sprains and fractures, and it’s crit-
ical to seek prompt treatment to prevent further damage
that can prolong recovery.
The ankle joint is vulnerable to serious injury from hard falls
on ice.
Ice accelerates the fall and often causes more severe trau-
ma because the foot can go in any direction after slipping
In cases of less severe fractures and sprains, it’s possible
to walk and mistakenly believe the injury doesn’t require
medical treatment.
According to the ACFAS consumer website,www.FootHealth-
Facts.org, even though symptoms of ankle sprains and frac-
tures are similar, fractures are associated with:
• Pain at the site of the fracture that can extend from the foot to
the knee
• Significant swelling
• Blisters over the fracture site
• Bruising soon after the injury
• Bone protruding through the skin—a compound fracture, which
requires immediate attention!
Most ankle fractures and some sprains are treated by immo-
bilizing the joint in a cast or splint to foster union and heal-
ing. However, surgery may be needed to repair fractures
with significant malalignment to unite bone fragments and
realign them properly.
Newly designed surgical plates and screws allow repair of
these injuries with less surgical trauma.
Never assume the ability to walk means your ankle isn’t
broken or badly sprained. Putting weight on the injured
joint can worsen the problem and lead to chronic instabili-
ty, joint pain and arthritis later in life. With newer bone-fixation methods, there are smaller inci-
sions to minimize tissue damage and bleeding and acceler-
ate the healing process.
Some people may fracture and sprain an ankle at the same
time, and a bad sprain can mask the fracture. I recommend scheduling an appointment with my office if
you have injured your ankle in any way.
It’s best to have an injured ankle evaluated as soon as pos-
sible for proper diagnosis and treatment. If you can’t see a
foot and ankle surgeon or visit the emergency room right
away, follow the RICE technique––Rest, Ice, Compression
and Elevation––until medical care is available. If you fall on an icy spot and hurt your ankle, the best ad-
vice is to seek medical attention immediately. This aids in
early diagnosis and proper treatment of the ankle injury
and reduces the risk of further damage.
For further information about ankle fractures, sprains or other foot and ankle
problems, contact Dr. Dauphinée and Complete Foot and Ankle Care at 940-300-3054.
www.completefootandanklecare.com.
DENTON COUNTY Living Well Magazine | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020
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