What to expect from fracture casting for an ankle fracture

A cast holds the ankle and foot in a controlled position while the broken bone heals. The clinician may first use a temporary splint if swelling is expected, then replace it with a fuller cast once the ankle settles. X-rays and examinations help show whether alignment remains acceptable. You may receive crutches or another aid and must follow the stated weight-bearing limit. A cast can feel heavy or warm at first, and the toes may swell when the leg hangs down.

Keep the cast dry and never place objects inside it to scratch the skin. Elevate the leg as instructed, move the toes gently if allowed, and check their colour, warmth, sensation, and movement. Use crutches exactly as shown and avoid walking on the cast until permission is given. Keep follow-up appointments; the cast may need adjustment as swelling changes. Once it is removed, stiffness, weakness, and dry skin are common reasons for gradual physiotherapy.

Contact the fracture service urgently for worsening pain or pressure, persistent numbness, pins and needles, blue or pale toes, cold toes, inability to move them, or a cast that becomes wet, cracked, loose, or painfully tight. Seek emergency help for sudden chest pain, severe breathlessness, or a new painful swollen calf.

Ask whether your fracture is stable in the cast, how much weight you may place on the foot, when the next imaging check is due, how to bathe safely, and what rehabilitation will follow cast removal.