Non-Union~Double Spiral Fibula Fracture

[ElizabethS1]

Hello,
On March "Break" ha ha, I took up Dogsledding in Algonquin park. I am a 41 year old female who has had 2 other ankle breaks to the same ankle. The dogsledding didn't work out! I crashed sled, immediately I knew I did something>Not Good! However, I did not go to hospital that day, I was in shock. Next day, tingling in toes, I walked into the local hospital. X-ray, and no Ortho in hospital, they cast me, and say that I need to see an O.S. as soon as I get home. The injury is: A double spiral fracture of the left fibula. 1st is approx. 1/8 of an inch above the distal fib. and the 2nd is just above this. I was seen in my local by a O.S. and because it had not moved, they just put my ankle in a new fullcast, with ankle in the proper position. I got cast off on April 24th (a full 6 weeks in cast). A new x-ray was taken @ this time, and there is no sign of this healing! I am not sched. to see O.S. until my Carpal Tunnel Surg. on May 21st. He said we'd have another look @ ankle then. I'd like to know what is the best thing I could have done to this ankle? Will it ever just heal on it's own? What if it does not? with the previous injuries, I already have alot of pain, how will this affect this? My knee is almost turning in backwards, when I walk on it. Lots of edema/pitting.
I don't want to come off as whinny when I go back to O.S. just looking ahead for relief.

Thanks
Elizabeth

[ElizabethS1]

Well I had that ankle surgery on August 20th/08. original break was on March 17th/08.
On Aug 20th I had a 10cm plate put in with 7 screws. I had another x-ray today as the last one showed NO HEALING!! Today the doc had to really blow-up the x-ray to show some kind of white shadowing. He says this LOOKS like healing!!??(5 months after surgery!!) LOL, so we'll carry on, go back in April to have yet another x-ray. So far is feels OK, I cannot lean on the side with the plate in it, this causes excrutiating pain. I can walk ok, no limp not much in way of aching.That will surely come down the road, I may even have to get the plate out.
For now, I am more concerned with my cancer anyway.

[Ezaz007]

woww i broke my fibula had same surgury date and i have  my follow up at october 1st wowww

thi sis so ccoool we brko e our bones at the sma etime hope your bones heal i want mine to

[ElizabethS1]

Hi Linda,

Sorry to hear about your ankle!! OUCH re Hip too!! Well let's see, I had my ankle surgery on August 20th. I was booked to stay over night, but I wanted to go home. I was recently diagnosed with advanced cervical cancer, so I just wnated to be home with my son & husband. I was 2 weeks in a 1/2 cast (lite plaster on backing and wrapped in cotton and tensors. When I went into to see surgeon on 2 week post-op ckup, so far so good.... @ this time they gave me the Aircast, which I LOVEEEEE as you can take it off as you know. The surgery was uneventfull, they attached the plate to the fibula which has 7 screws in it. They did have to add a synthetic graft as too much bone has to be cut to make it "Clean" er bleed again. I have not had to use the bone stimulator. This plate is a bit shakey though as ony 2 screws could be attatched to the distal fibula (the outside ronund part of ankle). The other 5 screws are above this. It actualy feels ok.  @ the first 2 weeks, I had some intense internal pain, but it past. I have had 2 other breaks in this ankle and one other surgery for something different, so it is bound to ache.. @ 2 weeks they took out the 14 staples. I figured I'd have to have a shot of whiskey b4 they started to do this LOL. Turns out they have this special pair of scissors that aid in taking the staples out, so I only felt the last 4 being taken out. (It was a bit sore on base of ankle.)
Now, If I could ONLY keep off of it! @ home, I am leaving it off mostly. Whenever I go out, I put it on and use crutches. Compaired to having a permenant cast though, I love the Aircast. Makes showering a breeze instead of an hour event LOL> Plus NO MORE WET SOGGY insides of cast!!!!!!!! I really do not know what to expect as far as healing goes though, as it was NOT healed @ all with 2 months in cast originaly, then a 5 month wait in total to get surgery. I am somewhat an active person, so you know as well this is a real bummer. Especialy when it is getting nearer winter....... My ski's(cross country) & snowshoes are @ the back door taunting me!! LOL I have only had the 2 week post-op checkup @ this point, I go back to see orthopod on Spet 30th, lets see if he can tell what I've been doing round the house LOL. HEY, he never said anything about sutting the grass LOL. It's a rideon anyway, so technicaly I was sitting down the whole time!!
Let me know as well how you get on.

Take care
Elizabeth

[Linda_rose]

Elizabeth: I have just read your message posted in June 08. I also have been dealing with a non-union broken fibula. I broke it during a ski accident in Feb 07, and it was still unhealed this spring, lots of discomfort, etc. I re-injured it June 1 because the ankle was so unstable, tearing the ligamnents in the ankle, and misaligning the broken fibula. MUCH pain by this point! The orthopaedic surgeon decided to operate, and I had the surgery June 17th, She took bone from my hip for a bone graft, and placed a metal plate and screws as well. The surgery went fine, but I developed an infection in the hip incision, and was sent back to hospital for a week on IV antibiotics. Nevertheless, all has gone fairly well since then. I was prescribed a bone growth stimulator, which I have been very consistant in using (3 hrs/day). I have also followed the doctor's directives re: amount of time for no weight bearing, use of cast/splints,crutches, etc. At this point, I am able to be out of the cast (removable air cast) when I am at home, inside, but wear it outside and when using stairs, etc.Still using the bone stimulator. Most recent x-rays showed healing beginning, but I am nervous that this non-union business may re-occur. I go back to the orthopaedic specialist Sept 24, and hope I will be out of the cast from that point on, but will have to wait and see what the x-rays show as far as the amount of healing that is underway at this point.
How is YOUR leg now? Did you have your surgery in June as you expected?  What was your post-operative experience like? Are you still wearing a cast? Did you use a bone stimulator? And what is the state of your healing at this point? Do you have any continuing pain? I do, and I also have fairly significant sensation loss on the skin around the incision. However, deep in the leg, it is still very sore. It doesn't hurt to walk on, unless I try stairs, etc. The ankle is still quite achy and hurts for lots of different movement, but I am hoping that will improve when I am completely out of the cast all of the time, and using the leg/foot regularly. Let me know how things are with you if you get this message

[ElizabethS1]

Well, I have had my cast off since April 24th. @ that time that x-rays say that there is NO sign of healing. May 21st carpal tunnel surgery, one week post OP another 3 views of my ankle. Nearly 3 months since this injury began, and STILL no healing. I am booked in to have the ankle fixed. Surgeon will: cut bone, and graft add a plate with screws. From all that I have read, I suppose that they will also fix a screw into the tibia. I am NOT looking forward to the later part of the summer in a cast! Moreover, the pain that comes with bone surgery!!!!!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHh I have had this before.

Please, as I am on a steady course of daily (Heavy) pain meds, HOW am I going to get thought this surgery? It is the worse pain I have EVER experienced!

Thanks
Elizabeth :(