Eli5 Whats the difference between a twisted, sprained, fractured and broken ankle?
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Twisted is a term for laypeople that describes more how the injury was received than what actual damage was done.
Sprained is a term describing damage to the ligaments (soft tissue that connect bones to other bones). This is compared to a strain which describes damage to the tendons (soft tissue that connects bones to muscles). Can be further graded by severity damage.
Broken layperson term for fracture.
Fracture is a break in the continuity of the bone. This does not have to deform the bone, nor does it require the damage to the bone’s outer surface (periosteum). It just requires a disruption in the bone’s normal form.
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