DO really bad ankle fractures usually result in ankle fusion or replacement?

It depends upon the location of the break.. if the break is located in an area of major blood supply it is a possibility, however the likelihood of such a result is very statistically low.

My husband's friend broke his ankle about a year ago. With him it was a wait and see situation. It all depended on how the bone was healing. At one point the doctor said they may have to re-break it but it turned out that it healed correctly.

Mine did....

,Hopefully not. That would depend on the injury,and the treatment closed or open,and severity of the fractures.You, the patient plays an important role by complying with and cooperating with the Md's care plan and any Re-hab. etc.. Take care. SW RNP

Not necessarily. It really depends on the break site and extent of soft tissue damage. Most ankle fractures result in either casting or what we call ORIF (open reduction internal fixation). This is a procedure the orthopedic surgeon will perform to stabilize the ankle through pins and screws and wire if necessary but it is not considered a "fusion". I have yet to see an ankle replacement in the years that I have been practicing. Hope this helps.