How can I tell if my ankle is broken?

A broken ankle can range from a tiny crack in the bone to a break that pierces the skin, according to the Mayo Clinic. While it's easy to see that you have a break if the bone is visible, a small fracture or crack may feel like a sprain, as the symptoms are similar. If you even suspect that you have a broken ankle it's important to see a medical professional for diagnosis and treatment.

Pain and Swelling

You may experience severe pain immediately after you fracture your ankle. That pain isn't necessarily localized. You can feel it from your foot to your knee. Significant swelling can occur at the fracture site or extend along the length of your leg.

Protruding Bone

If you see bone protruding from your ankle, you need immediate medical attention, because the area around the bone can become severely infected, and your recovery time could be lengthened.

Deformed Appearance

Another sign that you might have broken ankle is deformed appearance. Compare your ankles. Your broken ankle will look different from the healthy one.

Physical Examination

Go to your doctor, who has the expertise and technology to determine if your ankle is broken. Your doctor may use one or more tests to make the final determination.
He may put pressure on your ankle and order a stress test, which is a special X-ray. A stress test can tell your doctor whether your broken ankle will require surgery.
If your doctor is having problems diagnosing your fracture, he may order a bone scan. You'll have a small amount of radioactive material injected into an intravenous line. This material is attracted to your bones, particularly the parts of your bones that are broken.
An ankle fracture can usually be seen on X-rays, although the tiny cracks of a stress fracture may not be visible until the fracture begins to heal. You'll have X-rays taken from several different angles to prevent bone images from overlapping too much.
Your doctor may order a Computerized Tomography Scan so that he can see more detail about the bone and soft tissues around your ankle. A CT scan takes X-rays from several different angles and combines all of the X-rays to make cross-sectional images.

Source:

Mayo Clinic: Broken Ankle/Broken Foot

OrthoInfo.AAOS.org: Diagnosis

More Information:

OhioHealth.com: What To Expect From Your Doctor

MayoClinic.com: Tests and Diagnosis

RothmanInstitute.com: Ankle Fractures: Signs and Symptoms