Ankle Injury

Ankle Injury Lawyer in Wisconsin

Wisconsin Ankle Injury Attorney

Ankle Injury Attorney Milwaukee, Wisconsin – Every year over 1 million people seek medical treatment in the United States for Ankle Injuries. The Ankle is an incredibly complex body part consisting of many bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, muscles, and blood vessels.

While we have offices in Milwaukee and Madison, we handle ankle injury cases that happen throughout Wisconsin.

The Ankle can be injured in a variety of different ways. Some of the more common causes of Ankle Injuries include the following:
  • Direct Trauma to the Ankle
  • Rolling of the Ankle In or Out
  • Extreme Flexion (Bringing the Toes Upward) or Extension (Extending the Toes Downward)
  • Twisting of the Ankle in Any Direction

Ankle Fracture – Broken Ankle

Ankle Fracture is one of the most common types of injuries to the ankle. The Ankle Bone (Talus Bone) sits below the two lower leg bones, the shin bone (Tibia Bone) and smaller lower leg bone (Fibula Bone). The Talus Bone rests on top of the heel bone (Calcaneus Bone) and acts as a hinge allowing the foot to move up and down.


All Ankle Fractures  are either Complete Ankle Fractures  or Incomplete Ankle Fractures . A Complete Ankle Fracture  means that the bone is cracked all of the way through the bone. An Incomplete Ankle Fracture  means the crack of the bone does not go all of the way through the bone.


Ankle Fracture  or Broken Ankle may refer to a fracture of the Talus, Tibia or Fibula. The majority of Talus Fractures   are comminuted fractures, meaning the bone breaks into several different smaller pieces.

Ankle Fracture – Broken Ankle

The bony prominences in the Ankle are actually the ends of the Fibula and Tibia and are referred to as the Malleolar. The Lateral Malleolus  is the distal end of the Fibula. The Medial Malleolus  is the distal end of the Tibia.


Ankle Fractures can be separated into five main types:

  • Medial Malleolus Fracture – a fracture of the Medial Malleolus bone
  • Lateral Malleolus Fracture – a fracture of the Lateral Malleolus bone
  • Posterior Malleolus Fracture – a fracture of the rear of the shin bone
  • Bimalleolar Fracture – a fracture of the Medial Malleolus bone and a fracture of the Lateral Malleolus bone
  • Trimalleolar Fracture – a fracture of the Medial Malleolus bone, a fracture of the Lateral Malleolus bone and a fracture of the Talus bone

Treatment of Ankle Fractures

The treatment of an Ankle Fracture can include the following:

  • Immobilization – usually involving a boot or a cast
  • Physical Therapy
  • Massage Therapy
  • Ultrasound
  • Pain Medication and Muscle Relaxants
  • Surgery

Prognosis Following Ankle Fracture

The vast majority of Ankle Fractures result in some type of permanent residual impairment. It is critical that patients explain any ongoing discomfort, deficits in function or deficits in strength to their physician. This is the only way these problems can be properly addressed and medically documented.

usually the most benign of Ankle Sprains can result in permanent residual impairment. This should not be surprising considering that an Ankle Sprain is really a stretch and tear injury to an Ankle Ligament. Ligaments never completely heal following trauma.

Ankle Muscle, Tendon and Ligament Injuries

 The Ankle Joint is an incredibly complex part of human anatomy consisting not only of bones, but of many connected soft-tissues, including muscles, tendons and ligaments. By far the most common type of Ankle Injury is the Sprained Ankle.

Ankle Sprains

Over 25,000 people in the U.S. sprain their ankle every single day. Ankle Sprains very drastically in the degree of the sprain, but it is imporant to keep in mind that all Ankle Sprains involve a permanent trauma to human tissue. A Sprained Ankle  is a stretch and trear to an Ankle Ligament and can be classified into one of three different types:


Grade 1 Ankle Sprain – microscopic stretching and tearing of the ligaments of the ankle – usually accompanied by additional microscopic damage to the surrounding soft-tissues of the muscles and possibly the tendons – the individual can usually still bear weight on the effected ankle, but it is painful – swelling and associated joint pain is common – patients can make a full recovery from a Grade 1 Ankle Sprain


Grade 2 Ankle Sprain – more severe stretching and tearing of an Ankle Ligament – severely painful – swelling and associated joint pain and instability is common – extremely painful to weight bear or walk on the effected ankle – there is usually some degree of permanent impairment from a Grade 2 Ankle Sprain


Grade 3 Ankle Sprain – a total rupture of an Ankle Ligament – usually results in severe pain followed by a period where the injury victim cannot feel pain or anything else in the ankle – accompanied by severe swelling and likely discoloration – no ability to bear weight or use the joint – no range of motion – likely permanent impairment

Diagnosis of Ankle Sprains

Only a physician can diagnose your Ankle Injury as an Ankle Sprain with any certainty. The typical examination following an Ankle Injury will consist of a painful physical examination testing the strength and range of motion of the Ankle. While a physical examination is necessary following an Ankle Injury, an MRI is the only method that can objectively show the severity of trauma to the Ankle Ligament.

Treatment of Ankle Sprains

The treatment of an Ankle Sprain can include the following:

  • Immobilization – usually involving a boot or a cast
  • Physical Therapy
  • Massage Therapy
  • Ultrasound
  • Pain Medication and Muscle Relaxants
  • Surgery

Prognosis Following Ankle Sprain

Even the most benign of Ankle Sprains can and likely will result in permanent residual impairment. This cannot be surprising considering that an Ankle Sprain is really a stretch and tear injury to an Ankle Ligament. Ligaments never completely heal following trauma. It is important for Ankle Sprain patients to explain any ongoing discomfort, deficits in function or deficits in strength to their physician. This is the only way these problems can be medically documented and properly addressed by their physician. It is common for Ankle Sprain patients to suffer from repeated, Chronic Ankle Sprains, as the Ankle Ligament is now compromised and more susceptible to subsequent repeated Sprains.

Prognosis Following Ankle Sprain

Injuries to the Ankle Tendons are common following an Ankle Fracture or a severe Ankle Sprain. The main Ankle Tendons are all susceptible to injury:


  • Achilles Tendon – the Ankle Tendon behind the ankle and above the heel
  • Peroneal Tendons – the two Ankle Tendons running outside the fibula
  • Posterior Tibialis Tendon – the Ankle Tendonrunning behind the medial malleolus bone
  • Anterior Tibialis Tendon – the Ankle Tendon running down the front of the leg and attaching to the tarsal bones of the foot
  • Extensor Digitorum Tendon – the Ankle Tendon attaching to the big toe
  • Extensor Hallicus Tendons – the Ankle Tendons attaching to the four smaller toes

Ankle Tendon Injuries are treated in much the same way as Ankle Ligament tears and are sometimes even diagnosed as Ankle Sprains, although this is not technically medically accurate.

Contact an Experienced Wisconsin Ankle Injury Attorney

Each year innocent victims suffer Wisconsin Ankle Injuries as a result of the carelessness of another. It is critical that Ankle Injury victims have an attorney that understands Ankle Injuries and the potential ongoing problems that can result from Ankle Fractures.

If you or a loved one has sustained an Ankle Injury due to the negligence of another, be sure to contact an experienced Wisconsin Ankle Injury Attorney.
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