Ankle
Tarsal Coalition
Posted April 26th, 2008 by michandlerincMy 14 yr old son was just diagnosed with tarsal coalition (Talocalcaneal coalition) by an Orthopedic (Sports ankle specialist). A CT scan was done and I have felt very comfortable with him. He explained to us that surgery was the best option since my son is an avid cross country and track runner. My question is, should we be getting a second option from a pediatric ortho?
Weak ankle tendons
Posted April 14th, 2008 by DmccrumbI have a history of foot problems. I have had bunion surgery on both feet. The problem is that my tendons do not support my ankle bones. I have had, for the past 6 years - constant ankle pain. It seems to go from foot to foot and outside to inside. Once one side is feeling better the other side or foot begins to hurt. I wear orthodics. The 2 specialists I have seen have suggested that I walk as little as possible and that there is not much that they can do.
Our son is in training to be a professional dancer. Last weekend, he sprained his right ankle badly. With a series of performances coming up, he has to get back on his feet quickly. What do you recommend?
Posted April 10th, 2008 by MattThe specific treatment of ankle sprains depends on the location and type of injury. Most ankle sprains affect the lateral ankle (outside of the leg). But a medial (inside) ankle sprain can occur.
Have you ever heard of a sural nerve injury? Our 15-year-old daughter is an equestrian rider. She got bucked off a horse and her foot was stuck in the stirrup. Now she has numbness and tingling in her ankle and foot. The diagnosis is sural nerve injury. What does that mean? Will she get better?
Posted April 10th, 2008 by MattThe sural nerve (also known as the short saphenous nerve) is a sensory nerve, which means it conveys sensory messages. Damage or compression of the sural nerve can result in burning pain and diminished sensation or loss of sensation (numbness).
Importance of Neurologic Exam in Ankle Sprains
Posted April 10th, 2008 by MattAnkle sprains are fairly common, especially among athletes of all kinds. In this case report, a lateral ankle sprain (along the outside of the ankle) was accompanied by nerve damage. The patient was a 25-year-old professional dancer. The sural (sensory) nerve to the lower leg was affected.
Screw Removal Recovery
Posted April 5th, 2008 by n7mooIn December of 2007, I had ORIF surgery to repair a right ankle syndesmosis injury with a fibula fracture just a few inches below the knee. In one week, I have another surgery scheduled to remove the hardware from the ankle. I did not see an orthopedic specialist during my pre-op appointments this week, so I did not have a chance to ask questions.
After this outpatient procedure to remove the screws and plate, will I have to go non-weight bearing again, and if so, for how long?
Posterior Tibial Tendon Rupture
Posted March 28th, 2008 by michaeltI recently tore my posterior tibial tendon resulting from over-aggressive professional physical therapy (on or about March 6th), following a surgery attempt to regenerate the same partially torn tendon using topaz injections (?) back in December. I visited a podiatrist for surgery measures, but he is not appearing to want to move quickly to initiate surgery. My foot /ankle is currently inside a boot (with an orthotic arch underneath my foot).
The girls in our dance school seem to be getting injured right and left. Is there any way to screen them ahead of time and prevent some of these injuries?
Posted March 25th, 2008 by MattThere is no standard screening tool for use with dancers at this time. Some of the elite preprofessional ballet boarding schools use various musculoskeletal screening tools. Professional ballet companies have physical therapists who work with the dancers to prevent and manage injuries.
I brought Mother home from the hospital last night. She has diabetes and she broke her ankle requiring surgery. The nurses gave us a long list of Dos and Don'ts. They were very firm in telling us we had to follow the instructions exactly. My sister and I have been taking care of Mother all our lives. What is all the fuss about?
Posted March 25th, 2008 by MattIt's wonderful that your mother is in good hands at home. Hospital staff don't always know all the details about a patient's home situation. And in the case of patients with diabetes, there are some very special concerns.
First of all, healing in this group can be very, very slow. Even with the best of care, the fracture may not heal. This can mean a nonunion or a malunion of the bones. Walking, balance, and coordination can be affected.
My wife fell and broke her left ankle last weekend. She happens to be a diabetic, so the medical team read us a long list of things that could happen. Good grief -- why scare her with all the things that could happen before they do? There's no sense in borrowing trouble. Was this really necessary?
Posted March 25th, 2008 by MattMany physicians believe that it's important for fracture patients who also have diabetes to be aware of the potential problems that can occur. Every effort must be made to avoid the kinds of serious complications that can develop in this group of patients.
