Post Surgery Information
Most of the surgery that we perform requires immobilization afterward, and each type has a different recovery time. Ligaments take an average of 6 weeks to heal, so we immobilize the leg to make sure the repair does not spread apart. Next, we allow progressive weight-bearing and motion in two cast phases followed by physical therapy to rehabilitate our patients back to strength and balance.
Minor Ankle Procedures + Standard Protocol
- Ankle Arthroscopy with Thermal Capsular Shift
- Hardware Removal
- Ankle Synovectomy
- Ankle Hardware Removal
These ankle surgeries are considered more minor and have the advantage that most patients can walk much sooner. Because we find that our patients are careful during the recovery time, we allow our patients to put full weight on their ankle after their first post-op visit.
- Follow up to the office 5 to 7 days after surgery. Keep the postoperative dressing dry. Elevate the leg for comfort. Ice for comfort.
- Removal of postoperative dressing. 3-4 weeks in a boot walker with full weight-bearing. This is taken on and off to shower/bathe and sleep. Motion is encouraged when the boot is taken off. Remind the nurse to consider a compression stocking if you are having trouble with swelling.
- 4-6 weeks of physical therapy if your doctor feels it is necessary. Careful attention in Physical Therapy will help bring back strength, motion, and flexibility.
Ankle Procedures + Standard Protocol
- Brostrum Repair/Ankle Stabilization
- Ankle Arthroscopy with Repair of Osteochondral Defect
- Peroneal Tendon Repair
- Tendon Transfers
- Ankle Fractures
- Repair Achilles Tendon with or without Partial Excision of Calcaneus
- Tarsal Tunnel
- Total Ankle Replacement
Our standard protocol for ankle procedures are:
- Follow up to the office 5 to 7 days after surgery. Keep the postoperative dressing dry. Elevate the leg for comfort. Ice for comfort.
- 3 weeks in a fiberglass cast nonweightbearing. No weightbearing activities are allowed: no walking, standing, or balancing on the cast. Crutches, a walker, turning leg caddy, or a wheelchair is needed.
- 4-6 weeks in a boot walker. This initiates a gradual increase to full weightbearing as pain and swelling allow. The boot is taken on and off to shower/bathe and sleep. Motion is encouraged when the boot is taken off. Remind the nurse to consider a compression stocking if you are having trouble with swelling.
- 4-6 weeks of physical therapy if your doctor feels it is necessary. Careful attention in Physical Therapy will help bring back strength, motion, and flexibility.
Forefoot Procedures + Standard Protocol
- Bunion Surgery
- Hammertoe Surgery
- Weil Osteotomy
- Excision Interdigital Neuroma
- Excision Ganglion Cyst
- Cheilectomy
- 1st Metatarsal Fusion
- Bunionette Surgery
- Foot Hardware Removal
Forefoot surgery has the advantage that most patients can walk on their heels. Because we find that our patients are careful during the recovery time, we allow our patients to put full weight on their heels after their first post-op visit.
- Follow up to the office 5 to 7 days after surgery. Keep the postoperative dressing dry. Elevate the leg for comfort. Ice for comfort.
- Removal of postoperative dressing. 3-5 weeks in a boot walker with heel weightbearing only. This is taken on and off to shower/bathe and sleep. Motion is encouraged when the boot is taken off. Remind the nurse to consider a compression stocking if you are having trouble with swelling.
- 4-6 weeks of physical therapy if your doctor feels it is necessary. Careful attention in physical therapy will help bring back strength, motion, and flexibility.
Midfoot Fusions & Osteotomies Procedures + Standard Protocol
- Evans Procedure
- Posterior Tibial Tendon Repair with Calcaneal Osteotomy
- Surgery Lisfranc fractures (tarsometatarsal fractures)
- Subtalar Fusions
- Metatarsal Fractures
- Midfoot Fusions
Our standard protocols are:
- Follow up to the office 5-7 days after surgery. Keep the postoperative dressing dry. Elevate the leg for comfort. Ice for comfort.
- 3 weeks in a fiberglass cast nonweightbearing.No weightbearing activities are allowed: no walking, standing, or balancing on the cast. Crutches, a walker, turning leg caddy, or a wheelchair is needed.
- 3 more weeks in a fiberglass cast nonweightbearing. No weightbearing activities are allowed: no walking, standing or balancing on the cast. Crutches, a walker, turning leg caddy, or a wheelchair is needed.
- 4-6 weeks in a boot walker. This initiates a gradual increase to full weightbearing as pain and swelling allow. The boot is taken on and off to shower/bathe and sleep. Motion is encouraged when the boot is taken off. Remind the nurse to consider a compression stocking if you are having trouble with swelling.
- 4-6 weeks of Physical Therapy. Careful attention in Physical Therapy will help bring back strength, motion, and flexibility.
Complex Bony Procedures Procedures + Standard Protocol
- Ankle Fusions
- Triple Arthrodesis
- Pantalar Arthrodesis
- Talar Fractures
- Calcaneal Fractures
- Tibiotalarcalcaneal Arthrodesis
- Talonavicular Arthrodesis
- Medial Double
These bony procedures require the most immobilization. Bones on the average take 7 weeks to heal to about 80% of their normal strength. Once healed, we progressively stress the bone to accelerate remodeling of the bone and to improve its compression and tensile strength.
Our standard protocol for bone procedures are:
- Follow up to the office 5 to 7 days after surgery. Keep the postoperative dressing dry. Elevate the leg for comfort. Ice for comfort.
- 3 weeks in a fiberglass cast nonweightbearing. No weightbearing activities are allowed: no walking, standing or balancing on the cast. Crutches, a walker, turning leg caddy, or a wheelchair is needed.
- 3 more weeks in a fiberglass cast nonweightbearing.No weightbearing activities are allowed: no walking, standing or balancing on the cast. Crutches, a walker, turning leg caddy, or a wheelchair is needed.
- 3 weeks in a weightbearing cast.Full weightbearing with no assistive devices is allowed. It will take time to adjust to walking in a cast. Ice and elevation remain important as you increase your activity level.
- 4-6 weeks in a boot walker.This initiates a gradual increase to full weightbearing as pain and swelling allow. The boot is taken on and off to shower/bathe and sleep. Motion is encouraged when the boot is taken off. Remind the nurse to consider a compression stocking if you are having trouble with swelling.
- 4-6 weeks of physical therapy if your doctor feels it is necessary. Careful attention in physical therapy will help bring back strength, motion, and flexibility.
