The bump on the inner side of your ankle is called your medial malleolus. The bony prominence is part of your lower shinbone, and it plays a pivotal function in your ankle. Not only does it act as the anchor location for your deltoid ligaments, but it also plays a key role in weight bearing and ankle joint stabilization.
As a result of trauma or a high-energy impact, the medial malleolus can fracture, causing all sorts of symptoms including pain, swelling and difficulty walking. We’ve seen plenty of medial malleolus fractures during our tenure, and we understand the general course of treatment to get you back to walking comfortably. In today’s blog, we take a closer look at the standard treatment plan for medial malleolus fractures.
Treating Medial Malleolus Fractures
If you received direct trauma to the bony bump on the inside of your ankle or experience some other form of trauma that is making it difficult to walk or support your body weight, head to an urgent care facility or connect with a foot and ankle specialist in your area. They’ll conduct a physical exam, ask about your symptoms and get an inside look at the ankle with the help of an X-ray or similar imaging test.
If a medial malleolus fracture is confirmed, your doctor will walk you through the standard course of care. Most medial malleolus fractures will heal strongly without the need for surgical intervention, but if the fracture is displaced, surgery may become necessary. A weight bearing X-ray may be ordered 1-2 weeks after injury to determine if the fracture is displaced.
Assuming it’s a more standard break, you should expect to make a full recovery with conservative treatment options. Most patients make a full recovery in about 12 weeks, but it can take up to six months for your ankle to fully feel back to normal. Here’s a look at what you can expect during your recovery stages from a medial malleolus fracture:
0-6 Weeks – You’ll likely be confined to a walking boot for the first few weeks of recovery. This helps to take stress off the ankle and protect it from additional injury. If weight bearing is still challenging, your doctor may recommend using crutches to get around for the first few weeks. You can remove the protective boot when you’re not walking or while sleeping.
4-8 Weeks – Somewhere between the 4-8 week mark, you can expect to slowly wean yourself out of your walking boot and ditch the crutches. Walking helps to acclimate the recovering bones to controlled stress and can speed up the recovery process. Slowly increase your walking and activity levels, and follow through on any recommended physical therapy exercises you’ve been given. These exercises will help restore strength and flexibility to the ankle area, which has likely weakened a bit as a result of inactivity.
8-12 Weeks – Your ankle should continue to feel better during this period as the fracture fully unites and bone integrity is restored sometime between the 8-12 week mark. Some mild discomfort may still persist, most commonly with more strenuous physical activity, but that will fade as time passes and if you continue to follow your physical therapy recommendations. A return to normal daily activities typically occurs during this period, but return to athletic or strenuous activities may occur at the tail end of this period or slightly later.
12 Weeks And Beyond – If you’re still dealing with uncomfortable symptoms, or if your ankle starts to feel worse beyond this point, it’s time to reconnect with a doctor to reassess the medial malleolus.
For more information about treating different types of ankle fractures, connect with Dr. Silverman and his team today!