Q&A for How to Treat a Broken Ankle

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What should I do if I think you may have broken my ankle?

Neal Blitz, DPM, FACFAS
Board Certified Podiatrist
Dr. Neal Blitz is a Podiatrist and Foot & Ankle Surgeon who runs private practices in New York City and in Beverly Hills, California. Dr. Blitz is “The Bunion King®” and is the creator of the Bunionplasty® Procedure (plastic surgery for bunions) which has revolutionized bunion surgery. He has over 17 years of podiatric experience and specializes in minimally invasive foot and ankle surgery. Dr. Blitz received his DPM from the New York College of Podiatric Medicine, then completed a residency focused on Elective & Reconstructive Foot & Ankle Surgery at the Swedish Medical Center, and was awarded an AO Trauma fellowship in Dresden, Germany, focused on trauma and reconstructive techniques. He is board certified in Foot Surgery and Reconstructive Rearfoot & Ankle Surgery and is also a Diplomate of the American Board of Foot & Ankle Surgery and a fellow of the American College of Foot & Ankle Surgeons (FACFAS).

Neal Blitz, DPM, FACFAS

Board Certified Podiatrist

Expert Answer

Immediately rest, elevate, and ice your ankle. That's super important, because you don't want to make the injury worse. Then, you can put a wrap or splint on the ankle to protect it. From there, you want to get to a doctor as soon as possible.

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Question

Should I go to the ER if I think I broke my ankle?

Neal Blitz, DPM, FACFAS
Board Certified Podiatrist
Dr. Neal Blitz is a Podiatrist and Foot & Ankle Surgeon who runs private practices in New York City and in Beverly Hills, California. Dr. Blitz is “The Bunion King®” and is the creator of the Bunionplasty® Procedure (plastic surgery for bunions) which has revolutionized bunion surgery. He has over 17 years of podiatric experience and specializes in minimally invasive foot and ankle surgery. Dr. Blitz received his DPM from the New York College of Podiatric Medicine, then completed a residency focused on Elective & Reconstructive Foot & Ankle Surgery at the Swedish Medical Center, and was awarded an AO Trauma fellowship in Dresden, Germany, focused on trauma and reconstructive techniques. He is board certified in Foot Surgery and Reconstructive Rearfoot & Ankle Surgery and is also a Diplomate of the American Board of Foot & Ankle Surgery and a fellow of the American College of Foot & Ankle Surgeons (FACFAS).

Neal Blitz, DPM, FACFAS

Board Certified Podiatrist

Expert Answer

You don't necessarily need to go the ER, but you can if that's literally your only option. It's actually better to see a foot specialist. If you go to the ER, they're just going to send you to a foot specialist anyway.

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Question

I sprained my ankle badly and it really hurts. What do I do?

Jonas DeMuro, MD
Board Certified Critical Care Surgeon
Dr. DeMuro is a board certified Pediatric Critical Care Surgeon in New York. He received his MD from Stony Brook University School of Medicine in 1996. He completed his fellowship in Surgical Critical Care at North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System and was a previous American College of Surgeons (ACS) Fellow.

Jonas DeMuro, MD

Board Certified Critical Care Surgeon

Expert Answer

With a large amount of pain, the ankle should be seen by a physician. You need an exam and X-ray to assess the ankle for a fracture. This is most easily accomplished in an ER so your specific problem can be addressed.

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Question

What first aid should I do if I think I broke my ankle?

Neal Blitz, DPM, FACFAS
Board Certified Podiatrist
Dr. Neal Blitz is a Podiatrist and Foot & Ankle Surgeon who runs private practices in New York City and in Beverly Hills, California. Dr. Blitz is “The Bunion King®” and is the creator of the Bunionplasty® Procedure (plastic surgery for bunions) which has revolutionized bunion surgery. He has over 17 years of podiatric experience and specializes in minimally invasive foot and ankle surgery. Dr. Blitz received his DPM from the New York College of Podiatric Medicine, then completed a residency focused on Elective & Reconstructive Foot & Ankle Surgery at the Swedish Medical Center, and was awarded an AO Trauma fellowship in Dresden, Germany, focused on trauma and reconstructive techniques. He is board certified in Foot Surgery and Reconstructive Rearfoot & Ankle Surgery and is also a Diplomate of the American Board of Foot & Ankle Surgery and a fellow of the American College of Foot & Ankle Surgeons (FACFAS).

Neal Blitz, DPM, FACFAS

Board Certified Podiatrist

Expert Answer

Put an ace wrap or splint on your ankle to protect it, and rest, elevate, and ice your ankle until you can be seen by a foot specialist.

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Thank you for your feedback.
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