When is ankle surgery necessary?

Surgery on an ankle may be needed to treat fracture (broken bone), arthritis, tendonitis and problems that can't be resolved with therapy and medications. Surgery for an ankle fracture

ankle fracture

A broken ankle, or ankle fracture, is one of the most common causes of ankle pain. An ankle fracture happens when you break one or more bones in your ankle joint. Your ankle joint consists of your tibia, your fibula and your talus. Your tibia is the big bone in your lower leg and is sometimes called your shinbone.

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Broken Ankle (Ankle Fractures): Symptoms, Causes & Treatment

is done if the bones in the ankle are unstable and need more support to heal.

What type of ankle injury requires surgery?

Talus fractures are breaks that involve the talus bone of the ankle and often result in a substantial loss of motion and function. Because talus fractures, which typically occur after car accidents or high-velocity falls, can cause serious problems if they don't heal properly, they usually require surgical repair.

Can a torn ankle ligament heal without surgery?

Nearly all isolated low ankle sprains can be treated without surgery. Even a complete ligament tear (Grade 3) will heal without surgical repair if it is immobilized and rehabilitated appropriately.

What is the most common ankle surgery?

The modified Brostrom procedure is the most common surgical procedure used for ankle reconstruction, primarily to repair the anterior talofibular ligament. This procedure tightens the lateral ankle ligaments, usually by detaching the ligaments on the fibula and reattaching them in a tighter position on the bone.

Why would I need surgery on my ankle?

Surgery on an ankle may be needed to treat fracture (broken bone), arthritis, tendonitis and problems that can't be resolved with therapy and medications. Surgery for an ankle fracture is done if the bones in the ankle are unstable and need more support to heal.

Foot and Ankle Surgery - When Do You Need Surgery?

How do I know if I need foot surgery?

When Non-Operative Methods Have Failed. Regardless of the specific foot injury, deformity, or disease you're dealing with, if you're not finding pain relief in the methods that you're using, you should consider surgery.

Does a grade 3 ankle sprain require surgery?

A Grade 3 sprain can be associated with permanent instability. Surgery is rarely needed. A short leg cast or a cast-brace may be used for two weeks to three weeks. Rehabilitation is used to help to decrease pain and swelling and to prevent chronic ankle problems.

What happens if you don't fix torn ligaments?

Without surgery, the joint remains unstable, painful, and requires continuous care to restore some range of motion. Athletes, in particular, should consider surgery to speed up the recovery process. Surgery may also work with lesser injuries, like a grade 2 tear.

Does a Grade 2 ankle sprain need surgery?

A grade 2 sprained ankle will result in significant swelling and bruising. It is possible, though not as likely, to need surgery for a grade 2 sprain, depending on the severity of the sprain. It can take well over a month to fully heal from a grade 2 sprain.

What happens if I don't get ankle surgery?

An untreated strain may affect your ability to stand and walk later, and it can increase your risk for future strains. Untreated sprains can lead to a chronically unstable ankle joint. This condition increases your chances of developing conditions, such as: Degenerative changes in your ankle joint.

When do you need surgery for a torn ligament in ankle?

You might need this surgery if one or more of the ligaments on the outside of your ankle has loosened or stretched. This leads to a condition called chronic ankle instability. It can cause chronic pain, repeated ankle sprains, and an ankle that often gives way when you walk or perform activities.

How long can you wait for ankle surgery?

In conclusion, every effort should be made to operate closed ankle fractures as soon as reasonably possible. A delay of more than one week gives a significant rise in infectious wound complications, which significantly lowers functional outcome and patient satisfaction.

Can you walk on a grade 3 ankle sprain?

Grade 3 sprain

The joint probably isn't functional because it's too unstable, and movement creates intense pain. If you have a grade 3 sprain in the ankle, for example, walking usually isn't possible. Grade 3 sprains often require a brace or cast for at least a couple of weeks.

Can you fully recover from a grade 3 ankle sprain?

Grade 2 ankle sprains involve greater injury to the ligament and can take up 4-6 weeks to allow full return to sport. Grade 3 injuries are more severe in nature and often involve full tearing of the ligament and possible bone fracture. The length of time to recover from grade 3 ankle sprains could be 3 months or more.

How do I know if I have a grade 3 ankle sprain?

Grade 3: This is a full tear of the ankle ligament. You may have heard a popping sound when it happened. This level of sprain causes severe pain, swelling and bruising. Because the ligament is no longer able to do its job, your ankle will feel unstable and will be unable to support any of your weight.

What happens if a torn ligament in ankle goes untreated?

This is especially true in sprains that were not treated. If they're left untreated, sprains will often cause the ankle to become unstable, which can lead to chronic pain, swelling, instability and, ultimately, arthritis.

Can a Grade 3 ligament tear heal on its own?

Can an MCL tear heal on its own? A grade 1 MCL tear (minor tear) can usually heal on its own with rest within one to three weeks. Grade 2 and grade 3 MCL tears, which are more severe, need proper treatment in order to heal, which can include resting, wearing a knee brace and doing physical therapy.

Is it worse to tear a ligament or a tendon?

Because tendons have better blood supply than ligaments, tendon injuries tend to heal faster than ligament injuries of comparable severity. Both ligament tears and tendon tears are serious conditions that can cause intense pain and irreversible impairment if left untreated.

Is a grade 3 sprain worse than a break?

A broken ankle is a more severe injury than a sprained ankle. With a clean break that doesn't need surgery, recovery can take around 6 to 8 weeks. If you need surgery, recovery will take longer. With a minor ankle sprain, it may take around 2 weeks to heal.

How do I know if my ankle sprain is severe?

People with a more severe ankle sprain — characterized by extreme bruising or swelling and an inability to bear weight on the foot without significant pain, or when there doesn't seem to be any improvement over the first several days after the injury — should seek medical attention, Drs.

Is ankle surgery considered major surgery?

Minor Ankle Procedures + Standard Protocol

These ankle surgeries are considered more minor and have the advantage that most patients can walk much sooner. Because we find that our patients are careful during the recovery time, we allow our patients to put full weight on their ankle after their first post-op visit.

Is ankle surgery serious?

All surgeries come with possible complications, including the risks associated with anesthesia, infection, damage to nerves and blood vessels, and bleeding or blood clots. Potential long-term problems after ankle fracture surgery include ankle joint stiffness, weakness, and arthritis.

How long do you stay in hospital after ankle surgery?

If you are outpatient, you will go home on the same day after becoming fully awake in a recovery room after surgery. The amount of time from surgery to being fully awake is typically between three and six hours.

Why does my ankle still hurt after 2 months?

"An ankle sprain that lingers beyond 3 months is often an injury to a bone, tendon or ligament that is unlikely to heal without intervention," he says. "And the longer an ankle injury persists without proper treatment, the greater the likelihood that permanent disability will result."

When should I get an MRI on my ankle?

The doctor may order an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan if he or she suspects a very severe injury to the ligaments, injury to the joint surface, a small bone chip or other problem. The MRI can make sure the diagnosis is correct. The MRI may be ordered after the period of swelling and bruising resolves.