How long does it take to recover after a displaced ankle fracture without having surgery?

Depends: We usually call a fracture displaced if it is more then 2 mm. That being said if the fracture is significantly displaced it should be fixed. The ankle will usually heal, but the patient is going to have a malunion with a poor outcome.

Surgery: Generally most ankle fractures classified as displaced requires some form of surgery. The reason is that displacement can cause angular problems with the ankle joint itself.