After breaking your ankle, you can determine whether the ligament is torn or not by self-feeling, observing the symptoms, and checking with instruments. 1. Self-perception: If the pain worsens when the ankle joint is moved, it is considered to be a ligament tear. If the pain is aggravated by pressing on the medial side or turning the foot outward, it may be a tear of the medial ligament; if the pain is aggravated by pressing on the lateral side or turning the foot inward, it may be a tear of the lateral ligament. 2. Observe the symptoms: When the ligament is torn, there will be severe swelling and extensive subcutaneous bruising at the ankle. If most of the ankle ligaments are torn, the local joints will be loose and unstable, and there will be obvious depression when touched. 3. Instrumental examination: such as MRI can not only determine whether the ligament is torn or not, but also show the location of the torn ligament as well as the extent of the tear. It is recommended to consult a doctor in time after breaking your foot and deal with it accordingly under the doctor’s guidance.