1. Community
  2. Bones, joints and muscles
  3. Ankle Problems

Fractured fibula recovery on 10 months, infected.

Posted , 4 users are following.

james96625
james96625

Hello, I'm 38 years old and recently suffered a broken ankle (fractured fibula) in my right leg. Unfortunately, the center of the wound became infected and opened up around 2 weeks in, and looks a little bit like a bite from a zombie in The Walking Dead. Anti-biotics haven't done the trick, and wound-care specialists seem to be at a loss. The surgeon is suggesting to take out the hardware he put in just under 2 months ago, as he suspects the hardware is infected and may be causing complications with the healing of the wound. It's been 2 months, and I can't walk without the assistance of crutches. Seems most people are walking by this time. The doctor originally said I'd be walking by 6 weeks, but here we are at 8 weeks and I'm behind schedule. Just wondering if there's anyone out there who has been in a similar boat who may have some sort of advice. 

I'm debating taking out this hardware in hopes that it helps, but I'm also afraid that it could be too soon to remove the hardware, and even concerned about the complications of more infection post-removal, or even the bone requiring a little more time with that plate in. 

0 likes, 5 replies

5 Replies

  • james96625
    james96625

    Posted

    Urgh, not sure how to edit these, but it's 2 months, not 10. Darn it.

  • marge53753
    marge53753 james96625

    Posted

    James - that sucks- I’m so sorry!!!

    I would very quickly get a recommendation to an infectious disease doc... In this type of situation the doc should meet with u immediately-  and hear what he suggests along with surgeon..

    this is  very scary serious stuff and you really want to avoid infection getting into bone. I wish it had been 10 months instead of two for you - it would be an obvious choice of getting the hardware out.

    In my case I was closer to 10 months when infection was discovered- and put in hospital on Iv drugs and had 1/2 of hardware taken out- the other side of ankle was left alone as that hardware was not infected. They never want to remove hardware unless specific problem.

     I am on crutches and doing rounds of oral antibiotics now.

     This is not easy stuff in that they have to keep checking through blood and cultures that the infection is gone and does not come back.  Even though one may in actuality still be infected sometimes it won’t show up in cultures if it is a anaerobic strain it will die once it hits the air.

    .. If it were me and I have absolutely no medical training so please keep that in mind-I would probably get hardware out even though it’s early because - the downside of not getting infection controlled is so much greater.

    • teresa93024
      teresa93024 marge53753

      Posted

      Hello. Can u tell me how u know that u had an infection? I'm 8 wks out of surgery and have one spot that hasn't closed. It keeps rubbing my boot. I broke my tibula and fibula 

Back to top

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.