If you've heard from your doctor that you need ankle surgery, you're probably scared first. But you shouldn't worry, ankle surgeries are usually successful.
Ankle ligament surgery are two of the most common ankle surgeries. Let's briefly discuss what awaits the patient and how to take care of yourself in the post-operative period.
Ankle surgery is a very common operation on the ankle - joint
The most common ankle surgery is ankle joint surgery. The indications for the latter usually follow trauma, inflammation of the joint, damaged cartilage or other defects in the ankle joint. A large proportion of these operations are performed using arthroscopy, an advanced and minimally invasive technique.
Arthroscopic ankle surgery differs from conventional surgery in that arthroscopic surgery does not require a large incision, but only a few incisions up to a centimetre long to insert the instruments. The arthroscope, one of the most important tools for this surgery, is a small device (about the size of a pencil) with a video camera. Arthroscopic ankle surgery has much smaller incisions compared to conventional surgery, which means that the scarring after the operation is barely visible and much smaller. This surgery allows a much more thorough examination of the joint. What's more, the recovery period after arthroscopic surgery is shorter. And one more major advantage - the patient can usually go home the day after the operation, which is particularly important for those who are short of time and do not want to spend a lot of it "visiting" a medical institution.
After ankle surgery
Although arthroscopic ankle surgery is simple and the patient recovers much faster, it is still necessary to protect the joint: refrigeration for about a couple of weeks, dressing the wound as often as your doctor instructs, limiting physical activity for about a couple of months, and paying attention to rehabilitation.
In the post-operative period, an ankle brace will be very useful, not only to protect the operated joint, but also to provide the patient with comfort and ease of movement.
Ankle ligament surgery
Ankle ligament injuries are usually treated conservatively: pain killers, rest, etc. But more serious injuries require surgical intervention. Ankle ligament surgery is a procedure that restores the structure of one or more damaged ligaments.
After ankle ligament surgery
After ankle ligament surgery, it is recommended to keep the foot numb for about a couple of weeks, to limit loads and to reliably IMOBILISATE THE ARM for about three months and to restrict sports activities.
During the rehabilitation period, effective healing of the ligaments and restoration of foot function is the most important thing, so it is important to protect the ankle and follow all the doctor's instructions. It is worth purchasing an ankle sleeve to stabilise the ankle. The brace will immobilise the ankle, create a compression effect, activate the blood circulation, and the patient will feel less pain and much less swelling. In the post-operative period, the splint will provide a great deal of comfort for the wearer.
