Follow-up treatment of an external ankle fracture
How is an external ankle fracture treated?
The follow-up treatment after an external malleolus fracture depends on how complicated the fracture was (and whether there were accompanying injuries) and what type of therapy for the external malleolus fracture resulted from it.
In general, however, one can adhere to the following principles:
Regardless of whether the fracture was treated conservatively or surgically, stabilization and immobilization of the ankle are required after treatment.
This means that the person affected is either put on a plaster cast (in the case of a simple break, splints are sometimes sufficient), which they are usually supposed to wear for about six weeks, or are not allowed to step with their entire body weight for the same period. While relieving the injured leg, mobilization and then physiotherapy should be carried out as early as possible.
Physiotherapy can usually begin a few weeks after the operation of the lateral ankle fracture.
Initially, the patient should always only partially load the leg, which means that he may initially only be using forearm crutches. The early training of mobility in the ankle is so important in order to regain the original mobility, to strengthen the muscles, to improve the gait and to accelerate the healing process.
Read more about the healing time of an external malleolus fracture.
How strong the loads may be depends to a large extent on the individual healing process of the external joint fracture, but also on the doctor's opinion and must be decided on a case-by-case basis. In order to be able to assess this, regular clinical and X-ray controls are necessary.
For most of those affected, however, it can be assumed that about 6 to 8 weeks after the outer joint fracture, the load build-up up to full load should be possible. From this point on, the gait pattern should be as smooth as before and joint-friendly sports such as swimming or cycling should usually be possible again.
Other sporting activities that are more stressful, such as tennis or soccer, should, however, be avoided for a few months, but can be practiced again no later than three to six months later.
About a year after the operation of the outer malleolus fracture, the inserted metal parts (screws or plates or other material) are finally removed.
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Athletes (joggers, soccer players, etc.) are particularly often affected by diseases of the foot. In some cases, the cause of the foot discomfort cannot be identified at first.
Therefore, the treatment of the foot (e.g. Achilles tendonitis, heel spurs, etc.) requires a lot of experience.
I focus on a wide variety of foot diseases.
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Which therapy achieves the best results in the long term can only be determined after looking at all of the information (Examination, X-ray, ultrasound, MRI, etc.) be assessed.
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