Ankle Fracture Surgery

What is an Ankle Fracture?

An Ankle Fracture is a break in one or more of the bones that make up the ankle joint. A fracture can occur on the lower end of the large leg bone known as the Tibia or the smaller leg bone known as the Fibula or within one of the square shaped bones of the foot known as the Talus.

How do Ankle Fractures occur?

Ankle fractures commonly occur when the ankle is either forced inward or outward past its normal range of movement. Common causes for such force are sporting, jumping and running injuries.
An Ankle Fracture is typically characterised by a history of turning and rolling the ankle followed by sudden pain and swelling. Deformities following a fracture can range from a simple swelling to gross misalignment and deformity of bone structure. 

How is an Ankle Fracture repaired?

An Ankle Fracture Repair can be performed under General Anaesthetic (you will be asleep), Epidural or Regional Anaesthetic (you will be awake). The procedure can take anything from 10 minutes to an hour to perform, dependant on the complexity of the injury. For the same reason the length of stay in hospital to recover can range from a day case to a week in hospital. Fractures can be classified as simple or complex:

• Simple: If a fracture is a simple bone break without any misalignment the main aim will be to simply immobilise the foot and support the injured bone as it heals itself within a plaster cast splint. This splint will stay in place for up to six weeks until the fracture is calcified and united.
• Complex: If the fracture is complex and bones are misaligned the fracture will need to be physically realigned back into position in an open surgical procedure and then held in place with a surgical pin and plate.

At the end of the procedure the wound or wounds are closed with traditional stitches, covered with a absorbent dressing and covered with a plaster cast splint from knee to toe to hold the ankle in the correct position whilst the fracture/s heel.

What is the recovery like?

Once a patient is fully recovered from the effects of anaesthetic they are normally quickly encouraged to be as active and mobile as possible to avoid complications such as Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) from developing. It is therefore normal for patients to be encouraged to undertake lower limb physiotherapy exercises and cover a gentle walking distance with crutches on the day of surgery.

Following a progressive improvement of mobility and pain control, patients are normally discharged home. By the time the required level of recovery is achieved for discharge, patients are normally eating and drinking normally, walking confidently in a non weight baring manner with crutches and taking only mild analgesia (pain killers) to control any pain.

After ten days patients usually return to hospital to have any stitches removed and the original plaster cast is replaced with a new lightweight version. This cast will remain in place for another six weeks during which a patient will be expected to work on improving their own mobility through a dedicated physiotherapy regime.

After six weeks your Consultant Surgeon will remove the plaster cast, assess your condition and range of movement and evaluate how successful the fracture repair has been. Patients who are in employment should not resume work until after this assessment and dependant on the physical nature of their job may be advised to take longer off work. With the help of intense physiotherapy and rehabilitation patients should expect a full physical recovery to take between 6 to 9 months to achieve.

Are there any risks associated with Ankle Fracture surgery?

Although Ankle Fracture surgery is regularly performed without any complications occurring, it is very important that all candidates are fully aware of both the benefits and risks of undertaking such specialist surgery, as well as the increased risk of infection and delayed healing with a complex fracture.

All surgery, no mater how expertly or carefully it is performed, carries risks and the importance of a full evaluation and consultation with an expert Ankle Surgeon to discuss your condition in relation to these risks cannot be over emphasised.

How do I find out is I am a suitable candidate for Ankle Fracture surgery?

Surgical Advisor will be delighted to help you find a leading Expert Orthopaedic Surgeon in Ankle Fracture surgery to consult with. Your surgeon will carry out a thorough evaluation of your condition and provide you with a comprehensive explanation of the most appropriate surgical solution.
 
Our Expert Consultant Surgeons are most carefully selected and recommended because they understand the importance of the decision you are making when contemplating specialist orthopaedic surgery of this kind and because of their specialist lower limb expertise. Throughout your consultation you will therefore be encouraged to ask as many questions as you wish and to take your time in making a decision to proceed with any recommended treatment.

To ensure that all patients are comfortable with any recommendations or advice given in their consultation, all patients are asked to go away after a consultation and think through the information they have received. If for whatever reason you are still not sure about the best course of action and wish to have further dialogue with your surgeon, you will not be expected to pay for a second consultation appointment.

How do I make a consultation appointment?

For further advice on how to make an appointment to consult with an expert orthopaedic surgeon in Ankle Fracture surgery: 

Please call Surgical Advisor on: 0870 41 41 41 2
Or email us by clicking on advice@surgicaladvisor.com