How Surgery Helps Fix Ankle Fractures

Most people with broken bones suffer from ankle fracture. This typically results from rotating or a twisting injury from car accidents or a sporting injury. You might sustain a ligament sprain or a very severe twist might make you end up with a broken ankle. If you cannot bear weight on the ankle or pain is intolerable, never hesitate to visit a reputable Houston podiatrist. Read on to discover how surgery can help fix ankle fractures. 

In the emergency room, the doctor will check to ensure a fracture is present. Furthermore, the examination will check to see if your toes move with sensation. The broken bones might have brought on issues with the nerves and vessels. A CAT scan might be necessary to determine whether you had a fracture or not. Most ankle fractures occur outside the fibula. It is called a lateral malleolus fracture and comes at 3 levels. You might require moving on crutches with less or no weight for a few days on the doctor’s recommendation. 

With a displaced fracture and an unstable ankle, surgery might be necessary. During the surgery, a temporary tourniquet is placed to lessen blood loss. At the fracture area, the bones are put together for stability with a plate and screws. Treatment might last about 30 minutes to 90 minutes. However, most times the duration depends on the experience of your doctor. Additionally, any difficulties encountered might also prolong the surgery. 

To increase the chances of healing, it is required to undergo ankle surgery in Houston. You’ll be back on your feet in no time. Fractures that happen inside the ankle might require grafting when impacted. It helps to lessen the chances of developing posttraumatic arthritis in future. Surgery is also necessary when you have two broken bones in the ankle and ligament injury.

There are chances of damaging the syndesmosis ligament that attaches the tibia to the fibula bone. This leads to a high ankle sprain and might require placement of a screw or two on the ligament for stability. After surgery, the ankle fracture usually heals in about 6 weeks. You might experience delays in healing due to circumstances like:

There is more

It is important to visit a professional podiatrist for ankle treatment. This will ensure that you avoid getting complications after the procedure. These might include:

Removal of any screws or plates happens a few months after the bones heal successfully. This is because such hardware is no longer useful. However, you have a choice to have it taken out or not.  

Most surgeries for a broken ankle are routine. If it involves severe trauma and high energy with a joint involved, it needs a highly skilled doctor with experience in such conditions. Make sure to have a reliable podiatrist whom you can trust to help you get back on your feet after an ankle injury.  

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