After an ankle has broken, some complications can result from the injury. These do not occur in every instance, and generally are not common, however they are potential issues and in some cases may result. Below are several possible complications:

Arthritis

This is a condition that involves joint damage. All forms of arthritis involve pain as one of their symptoms. Osteoarthritis is the type that is related to trauma to the joint itself, amongst other underlying causes. Treatment methods for arthritis vary in different cases.

Blood vessel damage

Simply put, any condition that involves damage to the blood vessels could qualify as this. One of the potential complications arising from a patient's broken ankle is this type of condition.

Compartment syndrome

After an injury, or one of several other circumstances, compartment syndrome can occur. It is an acute medical condition, and can lead to nerve damage, and eventually muscle death, if not quickly treated with surgery. In this issue, an increase in pressure inside of a particular, confined location, causes the blood supply in the body to be impaired.

Nerve damage

The body contains three different kinds of nerves: motor, sensory, and autonomic. Motor nerves send information to muscles from the brain and spinal cord, in order to control actions. Sensory nerves pass along information to the brain and spinal cord, back from the muscles and skin. Autonomic nerves regulate involuntary and partially voluntary activities.

Osteomyelitis

This condition is a bone infection, or in some cases a bone marrow infection. Its cause is generally a bacteria of some sort, and the condition can often receive an additional classification based upon what type of organism is behind it, along with other factors. Osteomyelitis has a tendency to progress.

Other complications

As previously mentioned, not all broken ankles will lead to complications such as these. However, along with these possibilities, there may be other potential issues to result from a broken ankle. When the injury takes place, look for qualified medical assistance. If you want information on potential complications, ask for additional information from the person who diagnosed and/or is treating the condition.