However, although the outside bone is fractured, the ankle joint itself remains well positioned and stable.
The only fractures that are not unstable are linear (fissured) as in some fractures of flat bones and perhaps epiphyseal fractures where there has been no displacement of the ends of the bones. Many of the stable fractures can be fixed without the help of a surgery. For more information about these cookies and the data However, most ankle fractures will not produce significant long-term arthritis.
Treatment is non-operative, although it often takes 6 weeks or more for the bone to heal. Some foot fractures require surgery to repair the damage. Created for our patients, helping them find the best retail medical products & footwear.Have questions about unstable ankle fractures? Don’t wait any longer to receive the care you need. If you have had a stable injury this means that the injury should heal with the structures in your foot being able to function again. information to guide your decision making about treatment & to help you plan your recoveryPlease remember that the more time spent standing or walking, the more swollen your ankle and foot will be and the worse your healing will beFollow the weight bearing instructions you are givenUnless you are already on a blood thinner (for a medical condition) you will be given blood thinners. ORIF stands for Open Reduction Internal Fixation. These events usually occur during contact sports like football and rugby or a slip and fall accident. All stable fractures are simple / closed. If well protected, stable fractures can usually be treated purely through immobilization rather than surgery. Initial management of the fracture begins at the scene of the injury. However, although the outside bone is fractured, the ankle joint itself remains well positioned and stable. Feet are incredibly complex, and many of these small bones are responsible for helping bear our weight and propel us forward as we walk, run, and jump.
Internal fixation means the surgeon will then hold the bones back together while they heal with an implant.
A DVT is a Deep Vein Thrombosis or a blood clot in the leg. A stress fracture is a small crack in a bone caused by repetitive force or stress. In an unstable fracture, a person always loses some bone and it is replaced by a foreign body like metal. If the fracture was less significant and you are able to walk on the injured foot and ankle you may find you can go back to work quite soon.Many people are able to work from home and so if your injury is more significant and you can avoid commuting for a period, you will find that your foot and ankle does better.
Do the following every waking hour 10-15 timesA) Alternate the ankle between dorsiflexion and plantarflexionC) Draw the Alphabet with your big toe. Open means a surgical incision so the surgeon can access the broken bone. In order to stabilize a disrupted ankle mortise, it may be necessary for the surgeon to place one or more screws across the two bones of the lower leg (tibia and fibula) to stabilize the relationship between these two bones while the ligaments connecting these bones (syndesmosis) heals. Unstable ankle fractures often require surgery to reposition bones and stabilize the ankle joint.Patients with unstable ankle fractures are invariably in a lot of pain and require urgent medical attention. For ankle fracture to be unstable the restraining structures on the inside (medial side) of the ankle (deltoid ligament and or medical malleolus) are disrupted. Used with permission from Footeducation.com: Stable Ankle Fractures. This is cracking which goes only partway through the bone. View All Centers & Departments Stress fractures can cause significant discomfort, especially in areas of weight-bearing use, such as the foot. Elevating the involved leg above the level of the heart and placing a bag of ice (or a bag of frozen vegetables) over the area for 10-15 minutes at a time may be helpful.Adequate treatment of an unstable ankle fracture not only requires healing of the fracture and any injured ligaments, but also a realignment of the ankle joint.
For this reason, it is common for unstable ankle fractures to require surgery. In addition, it is important that the surgeon ensures that the ankle joint (mortise) is anatomically positioned following the surgery. The lower leg should be splinted and if available a bag of ice may be applied to the area.
It has also been designed to help increase stability and help reduce swelling and pain following post-operative procedures of the foot. However, an unstable fracture cannot be … Normally the implant is a metal plate and screws but many other implants are becoming available. Complete the form below to contact our doctors and request an appointment at one of our 11 convenient locations.Are your feet or ankles in pain? The foot suffers enough impact, with enough force, that it breaks the bone. stuck in a hole in the ground). The heel bone (calcaneus) is the largest of the tarsal bones in the foot. Although fractures of the heel bone are uncommon, it can be extremely painful and may cause the heel bone to widen or shorten. Treatment. You can help prevent a blood clot by keeping your knee moving. Stable Fracture. If the ankle is markedly displaced (ex.