An ankle fracture happens when one or both of the bones of the ankle are broken. Injury often occurs during a trauma, such as a fall or a motor vehicle accident. The treatment for an ankle fracture depends on the stability of the fracture and the risk of developing arthritis in the joint in the future.
If you've suffered a broken bone (fracture), or have received treatment for a broken bone that didn't heal properly, we want you to know that the team of surgeons at the University of Michigan Health System Orthopaedic Trauma Service specializes only in fractures and has more than 45 years of trauma-specific experience.
Hip fractures are most common in people 65 and up because as we get older, our bones naturally lose some strength and are more likely to break.
With fractures in the hand, wrist and forearm, a certain amount of angulation, or bend, occurs when the bone heals. Doctors determine if the position of a fracture will allow for functional use of the hand or arm after it heals. In many cases, when a fracture heals in a position that interferes with the use of the involved limb, surgery can be performed to correct it.
University of Michigan Health has been a pioneer in orthopaedic surgery care, research and education since 1930. Our surgeons have the resources and expertise to perform all surgical procedures, from the simplest to the most complex.
Osteoporosis is characterized by a decrease in the density of bone, reducing its strength and resulting in fragile bones. When these fragile bones break, or fracture, this is referred to as a fragility fracture. Because the bones have weakened, the fractures happen in ways that would not normally cause a break in a healthy person. For example, for someone with very advanced osteoporosis, even minor activity, such as a sneeze or a cough, can be enough to cause a fracture. Osteoporosis fractures often happen to the weight-bearing structures in the hip, but other common areas include the wrist and spine.
