Massage therapy · Kitchener–WaterlooAnkle Fractures in Children

Broken ankles, commonly called ankle fractures, are a common childhood injury, especially in active children who play a lot of sport or do a lot of running around (AAOS, n.d.). They range from very mild to complex, and they need proper care because some can cause long-term problems.

An ankle fracture is a break in one or more of the bones that make up the ankle: the tibia, fibula and talus. In children, ankle fractures usually involve the tibia or fibula, and they often involve the growth plates (AAOS, n.d.). Growth plates are areas of cartilage near the ends of long bones that help control bone growth and harden into solid bone when a child has finished growing (AAOS, n.d.; NIAMS, 2023).

Growth plate fractures need careful treatment because the long-term effects can include an ankle that grows crooked or legs that end up different lengths. An orthopaedic surgeon can explain the treatment options and arrange longer-term follow-up to check how the ankle grows (AAOS, n.d.).

Ankle Fractures in Children Anatomy

Three main bones make up the ankle: the fibula (the smaller bone in the lower leg, on the outside of the ankle), the tibia (shin bone) and the talus (a small bone in the back part of the foot). The ankle joint is where these three bones meet. Bones are joined to other bones by ligaments, which act like strong ropes holding the bones together. Several ligaments in the ankle help to keep the joint stable (AAOS, n.d.).

How Ankle Fractures in Children Are Treated

Treatments your child's doctor may discuss with you

Tips

• Growth plate fractures need to be monitored carefully by a doctor to make sure of good long-term results (AAOS, n.d.).
• If the bone grows unevenly, the ankle can grow crooked (AAOS, n.d.).
• After the fracture, your child should have regular follow-up visits with their doctor for at least a year (AAOS, n.d.).
• Complicated fractures may need to be followed until the child has finished growing (AAOS, n.d.).
• Because growth plates are the last part of the bone to harden, they are prone to fractures (AAOS, n.d.).

A broken ankle in a growing child is managed by their doctor, who decides how long the cast or boot stays on, when your child can put weight on the ankle, and how the growth plate is followed up. I work in step with that plan, check what your child has been cleared for, and need the doctor's okay before any hands-on treatment. For younger children, you as their parent or caregiver give consent, and you're welcome to sit in, with your child's agreement.

Please bring any X-ray or scan reports and notes from your medical team to your first visit. They're an important part of planning safe treatment for you.

In the Cast or Boot

• Relaxing work for the back, hips and other leg, and the arms if your child is on crutches
• Gentle drainage above the cast to help with swelling, and keeping the leg raised at home
• Gentle movement of the hip, knee and toes, within what the doctor allows

After the Cast or Boot

1. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (n.d.) Ankle fractures in children. OrthoInfo. Available at: https://www.orthoinfo.org/diseases--conditions/ankle-fractures-in-children/ (Accessed: 7 October 2026).
2. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (2023) Growth plate injuries. Available at: https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/growth-plate-injuries (Accessed: 7 October 2026).
3. NHS (2025) Broken ankle. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/broken-ankle/ (Accessed: 8 October 2026).