Oh, That Bothersome Ankle!

Ankle injuries happen almost every day. A slip, bump, or roll of the ankle can cause a minor break. Furthermore, severe clashes, like a car accident or sports injury, can cause more severe injuries. More than 15% of ankle injuries are ankle fractures. Many of these then require surgery, namely an open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) procedure.

3 Things to Know Before Your FESS surgery

More than a bumpy bone

The ankle is more than a bump protruding on the sides of the foot. Several bones and ligaments come together to make up the ankle. The tibia or shin bone, fibula, and talus make up the ankle. Several ligaments and tendons work together to give ankle support and flexibility. An injury can cause one or more of these bones to break.

Do you need surgery?

For starters, someone with a possible broken ankle must seek medical help. A sprain and fracture can feel similar. A doctor will assess the fracture using x-ray and physical exams. From there, there are non-surgical means, including casts and splints, to help with healing. There are some instances where surgery makes sense. The main concerns are if the x-ray reveals multiple fractures or the bones are out of place. A fracture where the bones are penetrating the skin is another emergency. In these cases, ORIF surgery is the next best step.

Time for ORIF

Open reduction and internal fixation puts broken bones back into place to help with healing. The goal is to reconstruct and stabilize the bones so the ankle can operate normally again. ORIF happens in two parts. In the first part, called open reduction, the surgeon repositions the bones of the ankle. The doctor will make one or more incisions to access the bones. From there, the surgeon will then use surgical tools to but the bones back in place.

Keeping things together

The second part of the surgery involves internal fixation. The surgeon will need some way to keep the bones in place. This can include a combination of screws, pins, rods, or nails. The surgeon makes the right selection based on the degree of injury and availability of materials. Once the bones and implants are in place, the surgeon then stitches up the incisions. Screws and other supporting material stay in the ankle permanently. However, there are rare cases where the implant will need to be removed at a future date.

The road to a stronger ankle

The recovery period takes between 8-12 weeks. After 2 weeks, the doctor then removes the stitches and places the ankle in a cast. A cast then continues the healing process. Pain management and physical therapy come next. After the 8 weeks, the surgeon assesses the ORIF procedure. The patient will get a removable brace or cast to continue the rehab process for another month.

ORIF may be the answer

In most cases, a doctor can treat ankle fractures with non-surgical means. However, severe fractures, multiple breaks, or a loss of function will require surgery. Once the surgeon assesses the injury via x-ray, may be is the next step. Overall, ORIF has a high success rate and gets patients walking again. For more information, speak with a healthcare provider.

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“NO wait time, RN Rebecca answered all questions prior to my visit by phone and again answered all questions and concerns while prepping me.”

“Entire staff was knowledgeable and courteous. They genuinely cared for my well being and made sure my wife and I were taken care of.”

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“All staff were wonderful.”

“I can’t say enough about Marcia and the entire team. The care I received was well beyond anything I could have expected.”

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“Everyone was friendly and concerned about my comfort. They frequently asked how I was doing, or if I needed something.”
“The staff was very polite, they were excellent. They explained exactly what was going on.”
“The STAFF from the moment you walk in were the nicest people I’ve encountered at a medical facility.”

“Everyone was friendly and the place was very clean.”

“The staff was great, especially Mary and Marcia. Marcia was extremely helpful post-op and made sure I was comfortable and well-cared for.”

“Experience was amazing. The nurses my son needed at this time couldn’t have been chosen any more perfect. They were supportive and understanding, patient and just great human beings.THANK YOU KINDLY ”

“Amazing nurses, very caring and friendly and put both me and my son at ease.”

“No severe pain – Just a little discomfort – I was asked several times during procedure if I was OK – they showed genuine concern for my well being.”
“Incredibly professional, friendly and confidence of knowing their roles as healthcare employees. Excellent!”
“The nurses were very nice and caring!”

“Marcia and staff were excellent and genuinely cared for my well being. Wish I could have taken them home.”

“Everyone was friendly and the place was very clean.”

“Marcia and staff were excellent and genuinely cared for my well being. Wish I could have taken them home.”

“Rebecca was amazing. I have always had trouble in the past with getting an IV started. I told Rebecca I was concerned about it. She got it on the 1st try – no digging in my arm and NO bruising the next day.”

“All staff were wonderful.”

“Anesthesia staff was outstanding!”

“Dr. Best…is the best!”
“Everyone was friendly and concerned about my comfort. They frequently asked how I was doing, or if I needed something.”
“Efficiency of the staff. Courteous, friendly and caring attitude. Excellent office staff. Pleasant surroundings.”

“Amazing nurses, very caring and friendly and put both me and my son at ease.”

“The STAFF from the moment you walk in were the nicest people I’ve encountered at a medical facility.”
“The nurses were very nice and caring!”
“Dr. Dedhia made everything clear and even scheduled an early follow-up appt so I could get back to work sooner.”
“Dr. Tupper was amazing! He spent time explaining exactly what he was doing, what I would experience and made sure I was comfortable.”

“I liked that it was so clean. Every staff member was pleasant and easy to talk with.”

“Entire staff was knowledgeable and courteous. They genuinely cared for my well being and made sure my wife and I were taken care of.”

“Dr. Tupper was amazing! He spent time explaining exactly what he was doing, what I would experience and made sure I was comfortable.”
“Efficiency of the staff. Courteous, friendly and caring attitude. Excellent office staff. Pleasant surroundings.”

“I can’t say enough about Marcia and the entire team. The care I received was well beyond anything I could have expected.”

“No severe pain – Just a little discomfort – I was asked several times during procedure if I was OK – they showed genuine concern for my well being.”

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