Orthopaedic

Ankle Fracture Surgery Treatment

Ankle Fracture

A broken ankle also called an ankle fracture. Ankle Fracture occurs when one or more bones that make up the ankle joint are broken. A fractured ankle can range from a simple break in one bone, which may not stop the patients from walking to several fractures, which may force the ankle out of its place and may be required that the patients do not put any weight on it for a few months.

What is Ankle Fracture Surgery?

A broken ankle also called an ankle fracture. Ankle Fracture occurs when one or more bones that make up the ankle joint are broken. A fractured ankle can range from a simple break in one bone, which may not stop the patients from walking to several fractures, which may force the ankle out of its place and may be required that the patients do not put any weight on it for a few months.

Thus, more bones that are broken, more unstable the ankle becomes, and there may be damage to the ligaments as well. The ligaments in the ankle hold the ankle bones and joint in the position. Ankle fracture surgeries are required to treat severe fractures. The exact technique depends on the specific type of fracture.

Causes of Ankle Fracture

When an ankle joint experience the stress beyond the strength of its limit, the joint gets injuredPage Image

  • If only the ligaments give way and tear, the ankle gets sprained.
  • If a bone gives way and breaks, then the patients have an ankle fracture.
  • Fractures can even occur with simultaneous tears of the ligaments. This can occur in several ways:
    • The ankle rolls in or out
    • The ankle gets twisted side to side
    • Flexing or extending the joint
    • Applying severe force to the joint

Ankle Fracture Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of ankle injuries and fractures are:

  • Pain is the most common complaint.
    • Generally, the pain will not come from the exact area of the fracture.
    • The patients may experience associated fractures of their foot or knee that also result in pain.
    • It is often the pain in the ankle that stops the patients from walking.
  • Swelling occurs around the ankle.
    • Swelling suggests either soft tissue is damaged with the possibility of the blood around the joint or fluid within the joint itself.
    • When blood is in the joint, it is known as hemarthrosis.
  • There may be bruising about the joint, although not immediately.
  • In severe fractures deformities of bones may be seen around the ankle.
    • The patient’s skin may be stretched over an underlying broken bone.
    •  Actual exposed bone is visible.
  • If the nerves or blood vessels that supply the foot are injured, the patients may experience even more pain along with pale skin in the foot, inability to move the foot or toes, or numbness.

Important types of Ankle fracture are:

  • Bimalleolar Fractures (Bimalleolar Equivalent Fractures): "Bimalleolar" means that two of the three parts or malleoli of the ankle are broken. In most of the cases of bimalleolar fracture, the medial malleolus and the lateral malleolus are broken and thus making the ankle unstable.
  • Trimalleolar Fractures: Trimalleolar fractures is said to occur when all three malleoli of the ankle are broken. These are unstable injuries and they can be related to a dislocation.
  • Syndesmotic Injury: The syndesmosis joint is located between the tibia and fibula, and is joint by the ligaments. A syndesmotic injury may be just to the ligament, which is also known as a high ankle sprain.

Treatment

The procedures for ankle fracture surgery treatment differ based on the specific type of fracture that the patients may have. Fractures like a lateral malleolus fracture of the tibia, where the fracture is simply out of place or unstable, can be simply treated with the alignment surgery. During this type of process, the bone fragments are first repositioned into their normal alignment, and then they are held together with the help of special screws and metal plates which are connected to the outer surface of the bone. In some of the cases, a screw or rod inside the bone may be used to keep the bone fragments together till they are healed. In more complicated fractures like a medial malleolus fracture impaction or indenting of the ankle joint is involved. Bone grafting may be required for repairing an impacted fracture. This graft acts as scaffolding for new bone to grow on and lowers any risk of developing arthritis later on. Depending on the fracture, the bone fragments may be fixed with the help of screws, a plate, and screws, or different wiring techniques.

How Soon I will recover?

It generally takes at least 6 weeks for the broken bones to heal. Longer recovery time may be required if the ligaments and tendons are also involved.

Pain Management: Pain after an injury or surgery is a natural part of the healing process, the doctor and nurses will work to reduce the pain. Medications are generally prescribed for short-term pain relief after surgery or an injury. Many types of medications are available to help manage pain, including opioids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and local anesthetics

Rehabilitation: Rehabilitation holds vital importance regardless of how an ankle fracture is treated. When the physician allows the patients to start moving their ankle, physical therapy and home exercise programs are very vital. Doing exercises regularly is very important. It takes several months for the muscles around the ankle to get strong enough so that the patients are able to walk without a limp and are able to return to their regular activities.

Supports: It is not uncommon to have different kinds of things to wear on the injured ankle, depending on the injury. Initially, most ankle fractures are placed in a splint for protecting the ankle and thus allowing the swelling to go down.

What Complications can happen?

People who smoke, have diabetes, or are elderly are at a higher risk for complications after surgery, including with the problems of wound healing. This is due to the longer time required by the patients for healing the bone.

General surgical risks may include:

  • Infection
  • Bleeding
  • Pain
  • Blood clotting in the leg
  • Damage to the blood vessels, tendons, or nerves

Risks from the surgical treatment of ankle fractures may include

  • Difficulty with bone healing
  • Arthritis
  • Pain from the plates and screws that were used for fixing the fracture.

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