What sort of problem is an ankle fracture?

Bone injury: If the multiple bones in the ankle break, they will bleed at the fracture site. This blood will clot and form the matrix ie the building forms upon which the new bone cells will eventually form from new bone forming cells that develop. In order to prevent the bone edges from moving around, that would cause much more pain and delayed or even non healing, casting or screwing bone is needed.

Varies by severity: Some ankle fractures are stable and can be treated in a boot or brace (usually when just the fibula bone is broken and the ligaments are minimally injured). Unstable fractures (both bones broken, or one bone with severe ligament injury) will require surgery for best outcomes.