Football season is here, and unfortunately significant injuries have already shake up several teams this preseason
Seattle Seahawks rookie safety Bud Clark was carted off the field on Sunday during the preseason game against the Tennessee Titans. Coach Mike MacDonald said Clark will be out for “multiple months” but the team has not released any special statement in regards to the severity of his injury.
So- what determines how long a football player will be out with a broken ankle?
Not all ankle fractures are the same!
A “broken ankle” can describe a wide range of injuries. Some ankle fractures are considered stable and can be treated without surgery using a cast or CAM boot while some involve significant trauma displacement, ligament damage and instability and require surgical intervention.
When providers are evaluating an ankle fracture, we look at several important factors such as: where the bone is fractured, is the fracture displaced, is the ankle joint in its proper alignment, is the ankle stable, are any ligaments injured, are there any other fractures, etc.
We use xrays, and sometimes a CT scan to help us determine extent of injury and whether surgery is necessary.
A stable non displaced fracture may be treated with immobilization and period of non or limited weight bearing while bone heals. More severe or traumatic injuries may need surgery and require hardware such as screws and plates to restore the alignment and stability of the ankle joint. If there are multiple fractures or significant displacement coinciding with ligament damage, the treatment favors surgical intervention more.
What does that mean for Bud Clark?
At this point we don’t know what type of ankle fracture Bud Clark sustained so we cannot accurately predict is recovery time frame.
A stable fracture has a very different recovery than a fracture that involves significant displacement with ligament damage.
For professional football players- simply getting the bone to heal is only part of the recovery. After a period of immobilization and/or non weight bearing, athletes can lose significant strength, range of motion and balance. Physical therapy is critical to rebuild these areas and prepare athletes for the demands of football. Returning to the field requires more than just being able to walk or jog without pain. They would need to demonstrate their ankle can handle the demands of professional football.
How long does recovery take?
There is no single timeline for returning to football after ankle fracture. The initial phase of fracture healing focuses on allowing the bone and soft tissue surrounding injury to heal. Once the patient is able to weight bear, physical therapy will help to restore range of motion, strength, balance and stability, running mechanics, sports specific conditioning- such as cutting and change of direction.
A great example is Giants running back Cam Skattebo, who suffered a season ending ankle fracture involving dislocation and ligament damage. His injury required immediate surgery and lengthy rehabilitation process.
For Bud Clark, the fact that the injury occurred during preseason gives him more time to recover than some injured later on in the season. The Seahawks will expect to miss him at least for multiple months but his ability to return this season depends on his exact injury and how well he progresses during his treatment and rehab process.
The goal isn’t to just get him back on the field, it is to make sure he can return to the best of his ability and perform at the highest level.
