Avulsion Fracture of Ankle

[SheFly]

Anybody know anything about this? I have just been told that I have an avulsion fracture on the tip of my lateral malleolus (left ankle, outside). It is weight bearing at this point, and the swelling has subsided.

I did this at a cross race on Sunday :(. I really want to be able to CONTINUE with my cross season. I have to call and make an appt with an ortho...

SheFly

[Veronica]

Don't know anything... but geez, what a bummer!

Veronica

[SheFly]

Thanks, V. It's really not quite as bad as it sounds. From everything I've read, the treatment is the same as for a sprained ankle (which is what I thought I had anyway).

SheFly

[redrhodie]

Did you do this @ Prov last week? I watched the women's elite race, so I saw the course on Sunday. Was it at that steep downhill with the switchback back up? That looked like a really hard section, so it was where my bf and I watched. We saw a few falls there. BF, who's a decent climber, kept saying he didn't know if he could make it up those inclines.

I hope you're healing up! I'm amazed by your ability to do this type of racing.

[silver]

SheFly, I/ve had an avulsion fracture of my second metatarsal. I had to have surgery.

my understanding (could be incorrect and specific to my case) of an avulsion fracture is that this is when a piece of bone chips away from the main bone and is held away by supporting ligaments. Mine would not heal because the supposting ligaments held the chip away and the chip was sliding around. So the bone could not heal itself. The chip had to be removed and the ligaments had to be stapled back to the second metatarsal head.

all healed up well, but it was very difficult to get a diagnosis because the chip was difficult to see. It took months of seeing doctors and walking in a boot to before someone finally took an x-ray that showed the chip and how far it was held away from the bone. prior to that, doctors told me that there was just bruising and to give it time. after the time was up they implied that I "should no longer have pain" and acted put out with me that I kept coming back saying "it feels like there is grinding pain when I run"

good luck with you, I hope that yours has a better recovery, just wanted to tell you my story since you asked.

[OakLeaf]

Sounds painful. :( Heal up quick SheFly.

[SheFly]

redrhodie - Yup, in the bowl at Providence last week, just where you mentioned. Rolled from the top of the hill all the way back down to the bottom. I knew it was likely not so good when I went to stand on it and fell back down... But I did get up and finish the race (I know, not so smart). :D

Silver - thanks for sharing. I'm hopeful that mine will NOT require surgery, but am suspecting they will put me in a boot when I go to the ortho tomorrow. I behaved this weekend and didn't race on it, but probably did a lot more walking than I should have. Glad to hear that yours did heal up though. My pictures must be pretty clear since this is what they diagnosed with the first films.

Oakleaf - thanks! I'll keep you all posted on my progress. Off to the Ortho tomorrow morning.

SheFly

[solobiker]

Good luck at the Ortho tomorrow. I will keep my fingers crossed for you.

[martinkap]

I had exactly the same thing - same leg, same side ... but there were 3 avulsion fractures ... Spent 4 weeks on crutches, and another 2 months 2x week PT. I have absolutely no problems now (3years later) but the ankle wasn't 100% for about 7months. By a 9months it was better. I was about 35 when it happened and I heal reasonably fast. However, avulsion fractures at that spot take time to heal and be free of pain completely. Good thing is, I would not expect any long term problems. It will heal 100%.

[SheFly]

Martinkap - YIKES! That is a LONG recovery.

Well, this morning I saw the x-ray, and can see the avulsion. Thankfully, there is only one, and it is small. All should heal well and return to "normal".

The bad news? No running for 4 weeks, which means no 'cross racing. Also not supposed to do a lot of walking, which means I'll have to stand in one spot to take pics of DH racing over the coming weeks. ;) I did a bit too much at his race on Saturday...

The good news? No crutches, and no boot! I am in a small air cast to provide stability. PT can start in 4 weeks as well - twice a week for 6-8 weeks.

Thanks to all for sharing stories, and for the good wishes. Now if I can just manage the not racing part... :D

SheFly

[SheFly]

ACK! I suspect I have re-fractured my ankle today. Out riding in the mushy, post-holed snow and fell over without being able to release my foot from the pedal. Hurt like a mo-fo.

There's some swelling, and definitely pain. It's weight bearing again, but it feels just like it did the last time... Sigh.

SheFly

[OakLeaf]

Oh man. Hope it heals quick whatever it is!

[zoom-zoom]

Ankles suck. I grade 2 sprained my left one in June during a trail relay (continued to run nearly 10 miles after the fact and stood around, drank beer, did all the things that one is not supposed to do on a fresh sprain) and it's still not right. I had wanted to try 'cross in '11, but now I'm not doing ANYTHING that involves running off-road this year. It's still weak and stiff. I hope that maybe I can get back to trail running and trying 'cross in '12.

Sorry about your ankle, SheFly. Be gentle. The more you stress it, the longer your healing time and the greater your risk of permanently damaging your ankle.

[jessmarimba]

Those balance boards - stability boards? - are good for regaining ankle strength after a sprain or muscle atrophy. It's done wonders for me.

[Crankin]

Hope your ankle gets better. The conditions on the trails are horrific for hiking/snow shoeing, let alone cycling.

[SheFly]

Good news/bad news. Good news is that there isn't a new fracture in my ankle - yippee! Bad news is that it means I have sprained it, but good, again. Figured I'd better at least have it checked out - quickest ER visit ever - I was in and out of the ER in less than 45 mins!

SheFly