Broken Fibula and stretched deltoid ligament

[Pilotneil]

I fractured my fibula about 1 inch above the base.  Clean break all the way through, no displaced.  I had surgery to lock the bones in place to accelerate healing.  The doctor noticed my ankle was loose and said my deltoid ligament was stretched, but not completely torn.  I am going for a post-op appointment on 6/30.  I broke my ankle 6/10, and had surgery 6/17.  Basically, they are saying that I'll need to go in a cast for 6 more weeks.  That means before I can walk it will be 9 weeks from the injury date.  All for a broken fibula and sprained deltoid ligament.  I think the doctor is being extremely conservative, I need to be weight bearing to get back to work.  Does this seem like a rather stiff sentence?  Shouldn't it be 6 weeks from the injury date assuming normal healing occurs on the bone?

[S. Kaul, MD]

Hi again!

The fibula is basically the non-weight bearing bone of the leg while it is the tibia that does the major weight bearing part (the two bones of the lower leg).  The concern in your case is the fracture being near to the ankle joint and the associated injury to the deltoid ligament. The sole determinant of the level of mobility and the speed of taking things would be the recovery post 6 weeks and how well you do in the following weeks post cast-removal. The kind of device is best judged by your orthopedician depending on the injury and the permissible range of motion. It would initially start with partial weight bearing and movement and then it would be increased to a maximum level gradually. It may take a few weeks before you can walk normally again. Physiotherapy during the period may also be a good idea.
Hope this was useful.

Take care!

[Pilotneil]

Thanks, I went to the Doctor on June 30th.  He told me 6 weeks from the operation in a cast, non weight bearing.  He said the tendon takes 6 weeks to heal, and that one of my two deltoid ligaments was torn.  

  He said I will need some sort of device after that for 6 weeks.  

What would be the determine weather or not he would get me a stir-up air cast vs a walking boot?  

How long would I have a limp for?

Thanks Dr. Kaul!

[S. Kaul, MD]

Hi there!

Well, normally its 6 weeks from the injury or the operation whichever is later. For a ligament injury 4-6 weeks should be good enough as well, assuming it’s the same foot. Nine weeks in cast seems prolonged though it would be inappropriate to comment without knowing the details and what exactly does your orthopedician imply. It would be best to discuss this in detail with your orthopedician.

Take care!