Fibula fracture, wondering how screwed I am?
Posted , 5 users are following.
Fresh fibula fracture and searching around for what to expect. Orthopedist appt is tomorrow and I'm anxious to get on road to recovery.
Highlights from the x-ray report but leaving a lot out. How bad is this?
-Acute Oblique/spiral fracture through distal shaft extending to the level of the syndesmosis.
-There is widening of the lateral ankle mortise space suggesting possible ligamentous injury.
-Multiple osseous densities with no apparent donor site.
I was mountain biking and lost control, basically riding into the side-hill which pinned my foot between moving ground and the bike and pushed my foot out and toes up. Basically the opposite of a classic ankle roll.
I felt it break under what I think was compression, hoping this is better for ligaments?
I don't know, I'm just looking for some positive info and wishing I could wind the clock back.
0 likes, 11 replies
deedeemouse tom92172
Posted
Can't help ya because I broke all 3 bones and it was horrible . Good luck!
diane86522 tom92172
Posted
Honestly, you are already screwed! And, my hunch is, you may be more screwed soon (literally, js).
Good news: youth and good health are likely on your side.
Follow your Dr's orders and get rolling with some p-t, asap.
Best, Di
LDT tom92172
Posted
I am not an Orthopedic surgeon but judging from the x rays and the position of the two pieces of bone so close to each other, if they put your leg in a cast and you stay off the foot for 6 weeks, you should be okay. Worst case, they can do a small operation and join the bones with a metal plate and screws. I have it and it is not the most comfortable thing. If I were you, I would rather try and let nature do it's thing for 6 weeks or so and be 100 % afterwards. No smoking and a calcium supplement with some Vitamin D pills to enhance absorption for a while will also assist healing .
sandra91776 tom92172
Posted
My Advice is you will need a lot of patience during healing process Does not happen quickly and its easy to get depressed during recovery
I broke my ankle in 3 Places in July I had surgery and I have screws
Im 7 months post op and back to my regular routine The first 5-6 weeks are the most difficult because you cannot walk
By week 12 I was walking
Good luck, this forum is a great place to vent!!!
deedeemouse tom92172
Posted
Sandra, we an had accident the same time .I'm walking but still have a limp. I go upstairs fine but I have to go downstairs using my good foot and putting both feet on each step. My days are shorter when I run around doing errands. I can last maybe 4 hours when I used to last a lot longer. I still feel like this has kicked my butt but I also fractured 2 ribs ( don't know what I did) about mid Nov so that didn't help my recovery either Both injuries are long and painful recoveries. I had cancer and radiation in my ribs so it probably didn't take much to fracture them and that's probably why I didn't know what I did. Just had gotten the word that I was in remission then I went and did this. I just can't wait to get back to myself and have all this behind me.. You sound like you're way ahead of me and I think we are close in age unless I'm thinking of someone else . I'll be 71 this month.
sandra91776 deedeemouse
Posted
yes Dee Dee we did injure ourselves at same time
I had Stabilizing screw removed 3 weeks ago and I can now use both feet up and down stairs
I had same issue with stairs prior to screw removal
i turned 68 on 2/2
deedeemouse tom92172
Posted
well good luck...what did it entail for the recuperation on taking out hardware? I cna't imagine going thru torture again lol
sandra91776 deedeemouse
Posted
Dee
I went into surgery at 7:15 and walked out at 9:00
It was nothing
i had big bandage and had to wear boot for 2 weeks
Boot was pain in butt
I stopped wearing boot after 10 days
rose71920 tom92172
Posted
Hi Tom,
Don't be shocked to be laid up for about 8 weeks before any PT starts. Don't try to be a hero and put any weight on the ankle. Do exactly what the surgeon says to do. Its the only way to heal and heal properly!
Best of luck and keep us posted!
tom92172
Posted
Yeah kind of what I figured. I think the two big things for me are how to get back to 100% and do I really want hardware left in there? Seems like hardware might create other issues, wondering if it's worth it to go back under and have it removed?
tom92172
Posted
Update, got through surgery on Friday. Took about 1.5 hours. Was totally unprepared for how complete the nerve block was. I didn't realize its essentially paralysis and you cant move anything. It lasted about 40 hours and I awoke to insane pain at 4:00 am.
Anyway, recovery clock has finally started, post opp pics attached.