Ankle Reconstruction Surgery

Please keep your foot elevated above your heart as much as possible for the first few weeks after your surgery.

Pre Hospital

• If you have your own X-rays please take them to hospital
• No food, drink or smoking for 6 hours prior to surgery (you may have sips of water up to 2 hours prior to surgery)
• Notify The Clinic for Foot & Ankle Surgery if you have any cuts, abrasions or skin problems on the leg to be operated on.
  

Hospital

• Usual stay: one to three nights
• ½ plaster backslab dressing first two weeks
• Physiotherapy to mobilise non-weightbearing on crutches
• Ensure you have a postoperative appointment on discharge
  

What to Expect

1. Swelling - This is to be expected. Minimise this by keeping your foot elevated above your heart
2. Pain - You will receive a prescription for pain medication on discharge. Pain will be minimised by keeping your foot Elevated
3. Bleeding- This always occurs. You may notice some oozing through the bandages. If this continues in large amounts please contact The Clinic for Foot & Ankle Surgery. Keeping your foot elevated will minimise the bleeding.

Post Operative care of your Foot

1. Rest - Bed for the first two to three days with your foot Elevated above the level of the heart. The foot should be elevated on 3 to 4 pillows
2. Mobilise only as necessary - Toilet and shower only. Do not put weight on the operated leg
3. Ice - An iced filled plastic bag placed over the foot or resting the foot on the bag helps ease pain and swelling
4. Pain medication - Take oral analgesia as prescribed when necessary
5. Do not wet dressing
6. Do not remove dressing.

Post Operative Appointments

7 - 14 Days

• Dressing removed and changed
• If necessary sutures are removed and ends trimmed
• Fibreglass cast applied and cast shoe supplied.
• Weight-bearing - partial to full weight-bearing as able
• Continue to elevate and rest leg as much as possible.

6 Weeks

• Cast Removal
• Referral for physiotherapy supervised exercises
• You may now bath as normal and allow the wound to become wet. 'Dab" dry rather than rub with a towel.

10 - 12 Weeks

• Final Review.
  

Expect

• 3 months to be fair, 6 months to be good, 12 months to be right
• 6 months for all swelling to cease.

Please understand that the post operative course varies with individuals and these are guidelines only.

If you develop a fever associated with an increase in pain and a discharge from the wound please call The Clinic for Foot & Ankle Surgery, also if you have any further questions.