Rehabilitation

What happens as I recover?

Ankle fractures take six weeks to show some signs of healing on x-ray, and three months to reach 80 percent of their eventual strength. If the fracture is treated nonoperatively it is common for cast and/or brace treatment to continue for three months. Stopping the cast treatment depends on x-ray findings of healing and consolidation of the fracture. The healing process continues for 18 months. Improvements in the strength of the bone, the recovery of normal movement, gait, function, and the gradual reduction of aching and swelling all slowly get better over that period.

In the early stages light exercises to keep the joints moving are all that is needed. Physical therapy is often helpful during the middle and later stages of recovery but is not really needed while the patient is not bearing weight. After that the recovery of normal function is often helped by physical therapy supervision of the progressive exercise program.

The aim of treatment is to return the patients to their previous level of function - including sports activity. This is usually accomplished in straightforward ankle fractures. Where there is damage to the joint surface or after a Pilon fracture the outlook is less favorable and some stiffness, pain, or loss of function may be a permanent problem.