Introduction
Foot and ankle care · Ankle injuries
Broken ankle (ankle fracture): assessment, treatment and recovery
Dr Sean LeoOrthopaedic Surgeon, Singapore
Clinic enquiries · Not an emergency service
Illustrative image
A broken ankle is a break in one or more of the ankle bones.
A broken ankle is a break in one or more of the ankle bones.
A broken ankle is a break in one or more of the ankle bones.
- A broken ankle (ankle fracture) is a break in one or more of the bones that make up the ankle joint. The two names describe the same injury, and it is common in adults.[1]
- Severity ranges from a single simple break to several breaks, so surgery is not automatic. Whether a cast or boot is enough, or surgery is considered, depends chiefly on how stable the break is, and that is decided by assessment.[1][4]
- A sprain can look and feel much the same, so the difference is made by assessment, not by feel. Sprains are covered on the ankle sprain page, the severe end of that spectrum on the ankle ligament tear page, and other problems on the foot and ankle care hub.[3]
- OrthoKinetics is Dr Sean Leo’s professional brand. Clinical care is provided through OrthoSports Orthopaedic & Sports Surgery. Dr Sean Leo is a specialist orthopaedic surgeon who cares for foot and ankle problems.
What’s covered on this webpage
Follow the route in order, or jump to the stop you need. Stops you have read are marked.
The ankle is the joint where the two lower-leg bones meet the foot.
The ankle is the joint where the two lower-leg bones meet the foot.
The ankle is the joint where the two lower-leg bones meet the foot.
The ankle joint is formed where the lower ends of the two lower-leg bones meet the foot. The fibula is the outer lower-leg bone and the tibia is the inner one.[1]
Doctors name the parts of the ankle that can break: the inner ankle bone (the medial malleolus), the outer ankle bone (the lateral malleolus) and the back part (the posterior malleolus).[1] A broken ankle is described by which of these parts has broken.
A broken ankle usually follows a sports injury or a fall.
A broken ankle usually follows a sports injury or a fall.
A broken ankle usually follows a sports injury or a fall.
A broken ankle usually follows a sudden injury. In the studies reviewed, it commonly followed a sports injury in adolescents or a low-energy fall in later years, and most breaks involved the outer ankle bone.[3]
It can happen at any age.[1] It says nothing about how careful you were.
A broken ankle usually hurts immediately, swells and is hard to bear weight on.
A broken ankle usually hurts immediately, swells and is hard to bear weight on.
A broken ankle usually hurts immediately, swells and is hard to bear weight on.
Common signs of a broken ankle are immediate and severe pain, swelling, bruising, tenderness to touch and difficulty putting weight on the injured foot.[1][3] Sometimes there is a visible deformity, especially if the ankle joint is also dislocated, and in some cases the foot feels numb or cool.[1]
These are useful clues, but a severe sprain can look and feel much the same,[3] so how the ankle looks or how much it hurts does not settle which problem you have. That is decided by assessment, which the next sections explain.
If the pain came on suddenly at the back of the heel or calf, with a feeling of being kicked or a pop, that is a different pattern. It is covered on the Achilles tendon rupture page.
Broken ankles are named by which bone is broken.
Broken ankles are named by which bone is broken.
Broken ankles are named by which bone is broken.
Ankle fractures are named by which part of the ankle has broken:
| Name | What is broken |
|---|---|
| Lateral malleolus fracture | The end of the fibula, the outer ankle bone. This is the most common pattern.[1][3] |
| Bimalleolar fracture | Both the inner and the outer ankle bones.[1] |
| Trimalleolar fracture | All three parts: the inner, the outer and the back.[1] |
Any of these can be in place (non-displaced) or out of place (displaced), meaning the broken pieces have moved.[1][3] That matters for treatment, and the next sections return to it.
The name of a fracture describes the break. It does not on its own decide the treatment. What weighs most is whether the break is stable.[3][4]
How doctors also describe where a break sits
Clinicians also describe some fractures, in what is known as the Weber classification, by where the break sits relative to the small joint between the two lower-leg bones. Where the break sits relates to how stable the fracture is, and so to what treatment is likely.[3]
Is it broken or sprained — do I need an X-ray
Is it broken or sprained — do I need an X-ray
Is it broken or sprained — do I need an X-ray?
An ankle sprain and a broken ankle (ankle fracture) can present similarly. The distinction is made by assessment, not by how the injury feels. Clinicians use a validated set of checks, the Ottawa ankle rules, to decide whether an X-ray is needed.[3][5]
The Ottawa ankle rules are checks a clinician makes during an examination. An X-ray is considered when there is pain around the ankle bones together with either of two things: being unable to bear weight for four steps, both straight after the injury and at the assessment, or tenderness along the back edge or the tip of either ankle bone.[3]
The rules are applied by a clinician during examination. They are not something to score yourself from a webpage, and they decide who needs an X-ray rather than what is wrong.[3][7]
A sprain stretches or tears a ligament rather than breaking a bone. For the ligament side of the question, see the ankle sprain page and the ankle ligament tear page. For more depth on telling the two apart, see Is it broken or sprained?.
How well the Ottawa ankle rules performed
In the study that refined and tested the rules, they were 100% sensitive for fractures, meaning they picked up every fracture in that study, and they could safely reduce the number of X-rays ordered in ankle injuries by about one third.[7] Other reviewed evidence describes the sensitivity as almost 100%.[3] National guidance recommends using the rules to decide whether an X-ray is needed in people over 5 with a suspected ankle fracture.[5]
When should I get this assessed?
When should I get this assessed?
When should I get this assessed?
Get medical advice as soon as possible if you think you may have broken your ankle. It may need treatment to heal properly.[2] If you suspect a break, do not wait to see whether it settles on its own.
Some signs mean the ankle should be seen urgently rather than at a routine appointment. Those signs are listed under Final next step at the end of this page.
Safety note: This webpage is not an emergency service. No list on this page can rule out a serious problem remotely.
A broken ankle is diagnosed from the story, an examination and an X-ray.
A broken ankle is diagnosed from the story, an examination and an X-ray.
A broken ankle is diagnosed from the story, an examination and an X-ray.
Assessment brings together the story of how the injury happened, an examination of the ankle and, usually, an X-ray. Most ankle fractures can be diagnosed with X-rays, which provide images of bone.[1] Whether an X-ray is needed at all follows the Ottawa ankle rules described above, applied by a clinician during the examination.[3][5]
An X-ray usually answers the fracture question. Other scans are used only when they answer a further question, and no scan decides treatment by itself.
What CT, MRI and stress X-rays add
- CT scan. A CT scan is useful for assessing complex ankle fractures, especially those involving the back of the ankle, and it can help in planning surgery.[1][3]
- MRI scan. MRI scans are rarely needed for ankle fractures. Because they show soft tissue better than other imaging tests, they may be used to see whether there is a ligament injury.[1]
- Stress X-ray. A stress X-ray is taken while you stand on the ankle. It helps the doctor see whether the fracture is stable or more unstable.[1]
A stable broken ankle is usually held in a cast or walking boot.
A stable broken ankle is usually held in a cast or walking boot.
A stable broken ankle is usually held in a cast or walking boot.
A stable fracture, where the broken pieces stay in place, may be adequately treated without surgery.[4] Care is usually pain relief and immobilisation in a splint, short-leg cast or walking boot, and in the reviewed guidance this commonly lasts for at least six weeks.[3]
A break that is not out of place on the inner ankle bone can be treated in a short-leg cast or walking boot. Many isolated fractures of the outer ankle bone are stable enough to allow weight on the ankle. A stable bimalleolar fracture may be treated with a cast for several weeks.[1]
Being treated in a cast or boot describes how the break is held. It still means weeks of protected recovery, and how soon you can put weight on the ankle is set by your clinician, not by a general rule.[3][5]
Weight-bearing and follow-up guidance
For simple single-bone (unimalleolar) fractures treated without surgery, national guidance advises weight-bearing as tolerated, with orthopaedic follow-up within 2 weeks if there is uncertainty about stability, and a return for review if symptoms are not improving 6 weeks after the injury.[5] For other fractures, weight-bearing may be protected for a period. Which applies to you is your clinician’s decision.[3][5]
When is surgery considered?
When is surgery considered?
When is surgery considered?
Surgery is not automatic. It depends on whether the break is stable and whether the bones have moved out of place.
Unstable fractures are generally treated surgically.[4] Most ankle fractures with a dislocation need surgery, and so do most bimalleolar fractures, because both sides of the ankle are injured.[1] Surgery is also generally used for displaced fractures, fractures where the joint between the two lower-leg bones is disrupted, unstable two-sided or three-part breaks, and breaks where the joint surfaces no longer line up.[3]
The aim of surgery is to restore the joint’s alignment and stability.[4] Whether it is needed for your ankle is an individual decision, made from the examination and the imaging.
Structure / Patient / Goal
Structure / Patient / Goal
Deciding together
Structure / Patient / Goal
S
Structure: what is affected?
Structure is what is affected: which bone or bones are broken, whether the break is stable or has moved out of place, and how the surrounding ankle is involved. It also includes what the examination and imaging show.
P
Patient: how does it affect you?
Patient means you as a whole person. Your symptoms, how active you are, your general health, your preferences and your circumstances all shape which options are reasonable.
G
Goal: what are you hoping to return to?
Goal is what matters to you, whether that is walking comfortably, getting back to work or returning to sport. A useful plan starts from a clear purpose.
Your plan
No single factor decides treatment alone, and one scan or one symptom does not determine the plan.
Will my broken ankle need surgery, or a cast or boot
Will my broken ankle need surgery, or a cast or boot
Will my broken ankle need surgery, or a cast or boot?
The choice comes down to one question: is the break stable?
A stable fracture is one where the broken pieces stay in place and the joint holds together. It is generally managed without surgery, in a splint, cast or walking boot.[3][4]
An unstable fracture is one where the pieces have moved or the joint is no longer held together. It is generally treated with surgery, to restore the joint’s alignment and stability.[3][4]
Your treating clinician decides which applies, from the examination and the imaging, including, where it helps, a stress X-ray taken while you stand on the ankle.[1] It is not something to work out from an X-ray report or from how bad the pain is. The name of the fracture does not decide it either, because stability does.[3][4]
Surgery fixes the broken bones back in position with plates and screws.
Surgery fixes the broken bones back in position with plates and screws.
Surgery fixes the broken bones back in position with plates and screws.
Surgery for a broken ankle is usually internal fixation, known as open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF). The surgeon puts the broken pieces back into their proper position and holds them there, using plates and screws.[1][3] The aim is to restore the joint’s alignment and stability.[4]
Surgery restores the position of the bones. It does not remove the need for recovery afterwards, and some stiffness and swelling are common while the ankle recovers.[1]
When surgery is usually done
Where surgery is needed, national guidance says to consider operating on the day of injury or the next day.[5] Surgery can also wait a few days to let swelling settle, which reduces the risk of wound problems.[4] This is general guidance, not a fixed timetable for any one person.
Recovery is measured in weeks to months, not days.
Recovery is measured in weeks to months, not days.
Recovery
Recovery is measured in weeks to months, not days.
Most ankle fractures take at least 6 weeks for early healing and 10 to 12 weeks for complete healing.[1] The NHS gives 6 to 8 weeks as usual for a broken ankle to heal, but it can take longer.[2] Most people return to normal activities within 3 to 4 months after the injury, and complete recovery from some ankle fractures may take up to 2 years.[1]
These are ranges, not dates, and your own recovery may sit outside them. General guidance is to return for review if symptoms are not improving 6 weeks after the injury.[5]
Rehabilitation is the key to recovery, whichever treatment you have.[1] It means regaining movement, strength and a normal walking pattern.[4] You may be advised to see a physiotherapist, who can help you get the foot and ankle moving again.[2] Once the bone has healed, using the ankle as normal helps stop it getting stiff.[2] Stiffness and swelling can last for many months after healing, and that is common.[1]
Putting weight on the ankle
How soon you can put weight on the ankle depends on the fracture and the treatment, and your clinician sets it. For simple, stable single-bone fractures treated without surgery, guidance advises weight-bearing as tolerated.[5] After surgery for unstable fractures, full weight-bearing commonly begins around 6 to 8 weeks.[4] Early protected weight-bearing is increasingly used where the fixation is stable.[3] Weight on the ankle too early can move the fragments out of place.[1]
Driving
When you can drive again depends on which ankle was affected and on whether you can control the pedals safely. It is decided individually with your clinician.[1]
For more on recovering after surgery, see post-surgery recovery and injury prevention tips.
Risks and complications
Risks and complications
Risks and complications
A broken ankle carries real risks, and knowing them helps you follow guidance and act early.
Blood clots. Keeping the leg immobilised carries a risk of deep vein thrombosis (a clot in a leg vein) and pulmonary embolism (a clot in the lung).[3] Guidelines advise the treating team to consider medicine to reduce the risk in people whose risk of a clot outweighs their risk of bleeding.[6]
The bone not healing straight. The bones may not heal at all (nonunion) or may not heal properly (malunion).[1] If weight goes on the ankle too early, the fragments may move out of place, which is why weight-bearing guidance matters.[1]
Risks of surgery. These include infection, bleeding, damage to nearby blood vessels, tendons and nerves, and problems with the plates or screws.[1] Deep infection after surgery is a potentially limb-threatening complication, reported in about 3 to 4% of ankle fractures in studies, and infection rates are higher in people with diabetes.[3] People who smoke, have diabetes or are older have a higher risk of complications after surgery.[1]
During recovery. Seek help from your treating team if the pain in your ankle gets worse; if you feel hot, cold or shivery or your temperature is very high; if your leg, foot or toes feel numb or burning; if the cast is too tight and the leg, foot or toes look swollen or turn blue or white; if the cast or boot is rubbing or feels too loose; or if there is a bad smell or discharge from under the cast.[2] Signs that need urgent help are listed under Final next step.
Will the ankle heal fully, and will it stay that way
Will the ankle heal fully, and will it stay that way
Will the ankle heal fully, and will it stay that way?
Most people return to normal activities within 3 to 4 months, but many experience stiffness and swelling in the injured ankle for many months, even after the fracture has healed.[1]
Arthritis can develop in the ankle years after the injury.[1] It is a possibility, not a certainty. Restoring the joint’s alignment and stability is part of reducing the risk.[4]
Whether surgery or non-surgical care gives the better long-term result is not settled in the research.[3]
What long-term studies found
In one long-term follow-up study of people whose ankle fractures were treated with surgery, 63% had stiffness, 45% had ankle swelling and 50% had pain five years after the injury.[3] In another study of surgically treated fractures, advanced arthritis was reported in 36.3% at an average of 18 years.[3] These are figures from single studies of people who had surgery. They are not a forecast for any one person.
OrthoKinetics Recovery Reflection
Recovery reflection
If the break has been declared healed, why can the ankle still feel stiff, swollen or unsure of itself?
Healed is a verdict about the bone. Someone else delivers it, on the evidence in front of them, and it answers one narrow question. It says nothing about how the ankle will feel on the stairs tomorrow. Stiffness and swelling commonly last for many months after a fracture has healed,[1] so a healed bone alongside an unsure ankle is an ordinary combination, not a contradiction.
What would it mean to let the bone and the ankle each keep their own clock?
One clock belongs to the bone. It runs quietly, and a clinician can tell you when it has finished. The other is the ankle’s readiness. Nobody can read that off for you; you notice it, gradually, as the ankle stops asking for your attention. The two are not racing each other, and neither is late when the other is early. Watching the second clock, while the first is left to do its work, spares you the frustration of expecting one to keep the other’s time.
A healed break and a ready ankle are two separate milestones. Reaching one is not a promise about the other, and the gap between them is not a sign that something has gone wrong.
Illustrative image
With you through the seasonsMeet Dr Sean Leo
Meet Dr Sean Leo
A consultant orthopaedic surgeon whose clinical focus is the knee, sports injuries and the lower limb.
- Dr Sean Leo is a consultant orthopaedic surgeon. OrthoKinetics is his professional brand; clinical services are provided through OrthoSports Orthopaedic & Sports Surgery at Mount Elizabeth Novena Specialist Centre and Connexion, Farrer Park Hospital.
- His clinical interests include sports injuries, including those in adolescent athletes; ligament reconstruction; realignment surgery; cartilage repair and joint-preservation approaches; knee replacement; and technology-assisted hip and knee surgery.
- The consistent aim is to return people to meaningful function and activity while avoiding unnecessary downtime.
- Qualifications: MBBS, MRCS (Ed), MMed (Ortho), FRCSEd (Ortho).
More detail: Meet Dr Sean Leo
- Training and career: Dr Leo trained in medicine at the National University of Singapore and served in the Singapore Armed Forces Medical Corps from 2000 to 2012, where his work included the care of soldiers in physically demanding roles. He completed postgraduate orthopaedic training in 2009 and a one-year clinical fellowship at Royal North Shore Hospital in Sydney, Australia, before joining Changi General Hospital as an orthopaedic consultant in 2012, where he later held the positions of Senior Consultant and Director of the Hip and Knee Service. With seniority, his educational contribution has evolved towards mentorship and support for junior doctors.
Questions people often ask
Common broken ankle questions
Common broken ankle questions
What is a broken ankle (ankle fracture)?
A broken ankle, also called an ankle fracture, is a break in one or more of the bones that make up the ankle joint. The two names describe the same injury. It can happen at any age and is common in adults. Severity ranges from a single simple break to several breaks, so how it is treated differs.[1]
How do I know if my ankle is broken or just sprained — do I need an X-ray?
A sprain and a broken ankle can look and feel alike, so the difference is made by assessment, not by feel. Clinicians use the Ottawa ankle rules, a set of checks made during an examination, to decide whether an X-ray is needed. A clinician applies them; you cannot score them yourself from a webpage.[3][5][7]
Can I walk on a broken ankle?
Whether you can put weight on a broken ankle, and how soon, is decided by your clinician, because it depends on the fracture and its treatment. Some stable single-bone fractures allow weight-bearing as tolerated, while others are protected for weeks. Weight on the ankle too early can move the fragments out of place.[1][3][5]
When can I walk again after an ankle fracture?
It depends on the fracture and the treatment. Some people are allowed to put weight on the ankle early, while after surgery for an unstable fracture, full weight-bearing commonly begins around 6 to 8 weeks. Most people return to normal activities within about 3 to 4 months. Your clinician sets your own timetable.[1][4][5]
What are the types of ankle fractures?
Ankle fractures are named by which part of the ankle has broken. A break at the end of the fibula, the outer bone, is a lateral malleolus fracture. A break of both the inner and outer bones is bimalleolar, and a break of the inner, outer and back parts is trimalleolar. Whether the pieces have moved also matters for treatment.[1][3]
Is surgery always needed for a broken ankle, or can it heal without surgery?
Surgery is not automatic. It depends on whether the break is stable and whether the bones have moved out of place. Stable breaks may be adequately treated in a splint, cast or walking boot, while unstable breaks are generally treated surgically. Most bimalleolar fractures and most fractures with a dislocation need surgery.[1][3][4]
How long does a broken ankle take to heal?
Most ankle fractures take at least 6 weeks for early healing and 10 to 12 weeks for complete healing. The NHS gives 6 to 8 weeks as usual, but it can take longer. Most people return to normal activities within 3 to 4 months, and complete recovery from some fractures may take up to 2 years.[1][2]
Will I get arthritis in the ankle later?
Arthritis can develop in the ankle years after a fracture. It is a possibility, not a certainty, and your own risk depends on your injury. Treatment aims to restore the joint’s alignment and stability, which is part of reducing that risk. Your clinician can talk through what applies to your fracture.[1][4]
What happens if a broken ankle is not treated?
A broken ankle may need treatment to heal properly.[2] Two known problems are a bone that does not heal at all (nonunion) and one that heals in the wrong position (malunion), and weight put on the ankle too early can move the fragments.[1] Treatment aims to restore alignment and stability, reducing the risk of ankle arthritis.[4]
Should I go to urgent care or see a GP first for a suspected broken ankle?
A suspected broken ankle should be assessed promptly.[2] Some signs call for urgent help rather than a routine appointment, and they are listed under Final next step at the end of this page. This webpage does not provide emergency or urgent care, so if you are unsure, use that list to decide where to go.
Costs and insurance
Costs and insurance
Practicalities
Cost, Medisave and insurance
Ask the clinic team for current information about fees, panel status, pre-authorisation and expected payment arrangements. Insurance coverage and out-of-pocket costs depend on the individual policy and the insurer’s decision; no coverage is guaranteed.
A cost estimate for surgery can be given only after a consultation and assessment, once a surgical plan has been developed. Each individual condition is unique — implants used, time taken, and other factors contribute to the overall estimate. The estimate will be provided to you by the clinic should you decide on surgical management, and will also be used to assist in obtaining pre-authorisation from insurance where applicable.
Insurance panels. Dr Sean Leo, Orthopaedic Surgeon, is on the specialist panels of Great Eastern (GE Panel), HSBC Life (HSBC Life Shield) and Singlife (Singlife Shield), and on the Prudential Panel. AXA Insurance Singapore became part of HSBC Life in 2023, and former AXA Shield plans are now HSBC Life Shield plans.
Corporate health plans. Dr Leo is on the panels of both Alliance Medinet and iXchange, which administer medical benefits for many company health plans. If your company plan uses either panel, you can see Dr Leo as a panel doctor.
If your company uses a different panel. Some company plans still let you see a doctor of your choice outside their panel, then claim reimbursement. This varies from plan to plan, as may the co-payment, so please check your benefits with your company’s HR department.
Panel arrangements change from time to time, so please confirm with your insurer or your company’s plan administrator before your appointment.
Dr Leo is on the panels shown. If your insurer is not listed, you may ask whether co-management with an Orthosports surgeon partner on that panel is clinically and administratively appropriate. Orthosports surgeon partners are collectively on the panels of all Shield plans.
Specific benefits, pre-authorisation, reimbursement and cashless treatment depend on the individual policy and insurer approval and are not guaranteed.
Arrange a consultation: the appointment section is further down this page.
Sources
References
References
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS). Ankle Fractures (Broken Ankle). OrthoInfo. Available at: https://orthoinfo.org/en/diseases–conditions/ankle-fractures-broken-ankle
- NHS. Broken ankle. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/broken-ankle/
- Kyriacou H, Mostafa AHMAM, Davies BM, Khan WS. Principles and guidelines in the management of ankle fractures in adults. J Perioper Pract. 2021. PMC8575982. Available at: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8575982/
- StatPearls [Internet]. Ankle Fracture. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing. NBK542324. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK542324/
- National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Fractures (non-complex): assessment and management. NICE guideline NG38. Recommendations 1.2.2, 1.4.1 and 1.4.2. Available at: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/NG38/chapter/Recommendations
- National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Venous thromboembolism in over 16s: reducing the risk of hospital-acquired deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism. NICE guideline NG89. Recommendations 1.11.1 and 1.11.14. Available at: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/NG89/chapter/recommendations
- Stiell IG, Greenberg GH, McKnight RD, et al. Decision rules for the use of radiography in acute ankle injuries. Refinement and prospective validation. JAMA. 1993;269(9):1127-1132. PMID: 8433468.
Final next step
Final next step
Next step
Final next step
Reading about a problem is a starting point. An assessment brings together the history, an examination where needed and any useful tests, and helps you and your clinician decide what to do next. How much physical examination is needed is a matter of clinical judgement. It may be limited when pain makes an examination unreliable, or when imaging clearly shows a problem that matches the symptoms, such as a fracture seen on an X-ray or an MRI scan that clearly shows an injury consistent with the symptoms. The Singapore Medical Council and the UK General Medical Council both allow remote medical consultations, where a physical examination is not possible, with safeguards: the doctor must be clear about the limits of an opinion formed without an examination, and whether an in-person examination is needed, or referral to other services, is left to the clinical judgement of the attending doctor.
Signs that need urgent help
Some symptoms should not wait for a routine appointment. Each item below says where to go.
After an injury
- The ankle or foot sits at an odd angle, a bone is showing, there is a deep cut, you are in severe pain, or the toes look blue or white or feel numb. Go to an emergency department or call 995.
- You felt a sudden pop or sharp pain at the back of the heel or calf, and pushing off or rising onto your toes is difficult. Arrange an urgent same-day assessment.
- It is very painful or the pain is getting worse, the swelling or bruising is large or spreading, or it hurts to put weight on the ankle or foot. Arrange an urgent same-day assessment.
At any time
- A joint, such as the ankle, is suddenly very painful, hot, red and swollen, especially with a fever or feeling generally unwell. Go to an emergency department or call 995.
- One calf or thigh is newly painful and swollen. Arrange an urgent same-day assessment. If you also feel short of breath or have chest pain, go to an emergency department or call 995.
If you have diabetes
- You have a foot sore and a fever or feel very unwell, or the foot is cold, pale or blue. Or skin on the foot or toes has turned black, or a sore looks deep, or there is pus or redness spreading up the foot. Go to an emergency department or call 995.
- You have a new foot sore, or a foot that is hot, swollen, changed in colour or leaking fluid, without the signs above. Arrange an urgent assessment within 24 hours.
If you are admitted by the doctor at the urgent care centre of one of these private hospitals, the Parkway Pantai hospitals (Mount Elizabeth Orchard, Mount Elizabeth Novena, Gleneagles and Parkway East), Farrer Park Hospital and Thomson Medical Centre, you may ask for Dr Sean Leo to be your attending orthopaedic surgeon. If you are instead discharged and referred for orthopaedic follow-up, you may contact the clinic to arrange an appointment. Both are subject to the hospital’s admission processes and to Dr Leo’s availability.
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