A sprained ankle and a broken ankle can cause similar symptoms and even result from similar causes. However, they are very different conditions. A break is a fracture in one of the bones of the ankle, usually the fibula. A sprain is a tear to one or more ...

Mark Gurarie is a writer covering health topics, technology, music, books, and culture. He also teaches health science and research writing at George Washington University's School of Medical and Health Sciences. Sprained ankles and broken ankles can both ...

A sprained ankle occurs when a person stretches or tears the ligaments in the ankle. An ankle fracture occurs when someone breaks one or more of the bones in their ankle. A sprained ankle may cause discomfort, but symptoms are usually less severe than ...