Ankle Surgery

Why do I need ankle surgery?

You may need ankle surgery if you’ve been undergoing conservative treatments — such as physical therapy and corticosteroid injections — but you still have pain, swelling, and tenderness after several months. Other times, ankle surgery is necessary after you’ve suffered a serious injury.

In any case, your podiatrist may recommend ankle surgery if you have any of the following issues:

• Ankle sprain
• Broken bone
• Nerve damage 
• Ankle instability 
• Arthritic damage 
• Ligament or tendon ruptures 

Ankle surgery may involve making repairs or replacing part or all of your ankle joint. Your ankle surgery is entirely personalized and tailored to your unique diagnosis or injury.

What happens during ankle surgery?

At FootCare Specialists, Inc., you can meet with Dr. Kaplan, a board-certified foot and ankle surgeon who has extensive experience in modern podiatric surgical solutions. Most ankle surgeries are performed on an outpatient basis using either local or general anesthesia.

During your ankle surgery procedure, Dr. Kaplan can:

• Remove damaged cartilage or other tissues
• Graft tissues to help connective tissues heal
• Insert rods, pins, or screws to support broken bones
• Replace part or all of your ankle joint with state-of-the-art artificial joint components

Occasionally, ankle surgery is necessary for exploratory purposes if X-ray or ultrasound imaging aren’t enough to properly diagnose your problem. 

In this case, Dr. Kaplan makes a few small incisions, inserts the arthroscope — which has a camera at the end — and observes your inner structures on a monitor to get an in-depth view. Not only does an arthroscopy help with the diagnostic process, Dr. Kaplan can even use it to make certain repairs.

How long is the recovery after ankle surgery?

Recovery time depends on your specific procedure, but rest assured, FootCare Specialists, Inc. cares for you every step of the way. For minor procedures, you may be up and walking within a few days — with a supportive brace or boot — and back to many of your regular activities within several weeks.

But if you needed a complex ankle surgery, such as a tissue graft or bone reduction, Dr. Kaplan may have you use a walking boot for at least a few weeks. In this case, it could take up to 8-12 weeks to experience a full recovery and return to your usual activities.

If you have a problem that may require ankle surgery, book your exam at FootCare Specialists, Inc. directly through the website or over the phone with either office.