Surgery Post Op
Most surgeries that are performed require a period of non-weightbearing and each specific surgery of the foot and ankle have a different recovery time. Bones take about 6-8 weeks to heal about 80% of their normal strength. Following a period of non-weightbearing, a patient progresses to partial weightbearing in a walking boot. Physical therapy and management of swelling is essential for a patients recovery.
- Bunion Surgery
- Hammertoe Surgery
- Weil Osteotomy
- Excision Interdigital Neuroma
- Excision Ganglion Cyst
- Cheilectomy
- 1st Metatarsal Fusion
- Bunionette Surgery
- Foot Hardware Removal
You will be in a posterior splint following surgery. You will be nonweightbearing and will follow up to the office 5-7 days after surgery. Keep the postoperative dressing dry. Elevate and ice the leg for comfort. Your dressing will be changed and you will then be transitioned into a walking boot.
This begins a gradual increase to full weight bearing in a walking boot as pain and swelling allows. The boot is taken on and off to shower and sleep. Range of motion is encouraged when the boot is removed when you are non-weightbearing. You will be given a compression stocking to help alleviate swelling.
You will then be prescribed 4-6 weeks of physical therapy if necessary, which will increase your strength, motion and flexibility.
- Ankle Arthroscopy
- Hardware Removal
- Ankle Synovectomy
You will be in a posterior splint following surgery. You will be nonweightbearing and will follow up to the office 5-7 days after surgery. Keep the postoperative dressing dry. Elevate and ice the leg for comfort. Your dressing will be changed and you will then be transitioned into a walking boot.
This begins a gradual increase to full weight bearing in a walking boot as pain and swelling allows. The boot is taken on and off to shower and sleep. Range of motion is encouraged when the boot is removed when you are non-weightbearing. You will be given a compression stocking to help alleviate swelling.
You will then be prescribed 4-6 weeks of physical therapy if necessary, which will increase your strength, motion and flexibility.
- Ankle Ligament Reconstruction
- Ankle Arthroscopy with Repair of Osteochondral Defect
- Tendon Repairs/Transfers
- Ankle Fractures
- Achilles Tendon Repair +/- Calcaneal Exostetomy
- Tarsal Tunnel
- Nerve Procedures of the Ankle
You will be in a posterior splint following surgery. Follow up to the office 5-7 days after surgery. Keep the postoperative dressing dry. Elevate and ice the leg for comfort. Your dressing will be changed and you will then be transitioned into a walking boot.
You will be in the walking boot but will remain non-weightbearing for 3-4 weeks. You will be given a compression stocking to help alleviate swelling. The boot is taken on and off to shower and sleep. Range of motion is encouraged when the boot is removed when you are non-weightbearing.
You will then begin a gradual increase to full weight bearing in a walking boot as pain and swelling allows for another 4-6 weeks. The boot is taken on and off to shower and sleep. Range of motion is encouraged when the boot is removed when you are non-weightbearing. You will be given a compression stocking to help alleviate swelling.
You will then be prescribed 4-6 weeks of physical therapy if necessary which will increase your strength, motion and flexibility.
- Ankle Arthrodesis
- Triple Arthrodesis
- Pantalar Arthrodesis
- Talar /Calcaneal Fractures
- Tibiotalarcalcaneal Arthrodesis
- Talonavicular Arthrodesis
- Medial Double
- Subtalar Joint Arthrodesis
- Calcaneal Osteotomies +/- Tendon Repair
- Midfoot Arthrodesis/Fracture
You will be in a posterior splint following surgery. Follow up to the office 5-7 days after surgery. Keep the postoperative dressing dry. Elevate and ice the leg for comfort. Your dressing will be changed and you will be placed back in the posterior splint.
After the sutures are removed at your 2 week appointment you will be placed in a fiberglass cast for 3 weeks and will be completely non-weightbearing. No weightbearing activities are allowed: no walking, standing, or balancing on the cast. Crutches, a walker, knee scooter or a wheelchair is needed.
You will return to clinic to have your cast removed and placed back into a fiberglass cast for another 3 weeks and will be completely non-weight bearing. No weightbearing activities are allowed: no walking, standing, or balancing on the cast. Crutches, a walker, knee scooter or a wheelchair is needed.
At your next visit the cast will be removed and you will be placed in a boot walker for 4-6 weeks. This begins a gradual increase to full weight bearing as pain and swelling allow. The boot is taken on and off to shower and sleep. Range of motion is encouraged when the boot is removed when you are non-weight bearing. You will be given a compression stocking to help alleviate swelling.
You will then be prescribed 4-6 weeks of physical therapy which will increase your strength, motion and flexibility.
