What is Displaced Fibular Ankle Fracture Treated With ORIF
A fibular ankle fracture is a break (fracture) in the part of the fibula that is located near your ankle. The fibula is the smaller of the two bones in the lower leg and is on the outer side of the leg.
A displaced fracture means that when your bone broke, the pieces shifted and are not lined up correctly. Your ankle joint can also become unstable, which means the bones move more than normal. The bones will be put back into position and held in place with a procedure called open reduction with internal fixation (ORIF). A combination of screws, screws and a metal plate, or different types of wiring will be used. The procedure helps the bones and connective tissue (ligaments) heal properly.
Tell a health care provider about:
- Any allergies you have.
- All medicines you are taking, including vitamins, herbs, eye drops, creams, and over-the-counter medicines.
- Any problems you or family members have had with anesthetic medicines.
- Any blood disorders you have.
- Any surgeries you have had.
- Any medical conditions you have, such as sleep apnea or heart disease.
- Whether you are pregnant or may be pregnant.
What are the risks?
Generally, this is a safe procedure. However, problems may occur.
- Problems
that may occur shortly after surgery include:
- Bleeding or blood clots.
- Allergic reactions to medicines.
- Damage to nearby structures like nerves or blood vessels.
- Infection.
- Long-term
problems that may occur after surgery include:
- Ongoing (chronic) pain from the screws or plates.
- Arthritis.
- Failure to heal properly.
- Ongoing (chronic) pain and loss of motion that make it difficult for you to walk or do some activities.
What happens before the procedure?
Staying hydrated
Follow instructions from your health care provider about hydration, which may include:
- Up to 2 hours before the procedure – you may continue to drink clear liquids, such as water, clear fruit juice, black coffee, and plain tea.
Eating and drinking restrictions
Follow instructions from your health care provider about eating and drinking, which may include:
- 8 hours before the procedure – stop eating heavy meals or foods such as meat, fried foods, or fatty foods.
- 6 hours before the procedure – stop eating light meals or foods, such as toast or cereal.
- 6 hours before the procedure – stop drinking milk or drinks that contain milk.
- 2 hours before the procedure – stop drinking clear liquids.
Medicines
- Ask
your health care provider about:
- Changing or stopping your regular medicines. This is especially important if you are taking diabetes medicines or blood thinners.
- Taking medicines such as aspirin and ibuprofen. These medicines can thin your blood.Do nottake these medicines before your procedure if your health care provider instructs you not to.
- You may be given antibiotic medicine to help prevent infection.
General instructions
- Do notuse any products that contain nicotine or tobacco, such as cigarettes and e-cigarettes. These can delay bone healing. If you need help quitting, ask your health care provider.
- Plan to have someone take you home from the hospital or clinic.
- If you will be going home right after the procedure, plan to have someone with you for 24 hours.
- Ask your health care provider how your surgical site will be marked or identified.
- You may be asked to shower with a germ-killing soap.
What happens during the procedure?
- To
lower your risk of infection:
- Your health care team will wash or sanitize their hands.
- Your skin will be washed with soap.
- Hair may be removed from the surgical area.
- An IV tube will be inserted into one of your veins.
- You
will be given one or more of the following:
- A medicine to help you relax (sedative).
- A medicine to make you fall asleep (general anesthetic).
- A cut (incision) will be made on the outside of your ankle to expose the bone.
- The broken bone will be returned to its normal position. To hold the bone in place, the surgeon will use screws and a metal plate or different types of wiring.
- The surgeon will close the incision with stitches (sutures) or staples.
- A bandage (dressing) will be placed over your incision.
- A padded splint will be placed to help protect your ankle and keep it still.
The procedure may vary among health care providers and hospitals.
What happens after the procedure?
- Your blood pressure, heart rate, breathing rate, and blood oxygen level will be monitored until the medicines you were given have worn off.
- Do notdrive for 24 hours if you were given a sedative.
- You will be given pain medicine as needed.
- You will not be able to put weight on your injured side for several weeks. You will be given crutches or a walker.
- You may have an X-ray done to make sure the bones are in the right position.
Summary
- A fibular ankle fracture is a break in the part of the fibula that is located near your ankle. “Displaced” means the pieces shifted and are not lined up correctly.
- ORIF is the procedure to put your bones back in position and stabilize them.
- Follow restrictions in eating, drinking, and taking medication before your procedure as directed by your health care provider.
Displaced Fibular Ankle Fracture Treated With ORIF, Care After
This sheet gives you information about how to care for yourself after your procedure. Your health care provider may also give you more specific instructions. If you have problems or questions, contact your health care provider.
What can I expect after the procedure?
After your procedure, it is common to have:
- Swelling, bruising, and pain at your ankle and foot.
- Some clear or light yellow drainage or a small amount of blood from your incision.
- Stiffness when you move your ankle, once you are allowed to move it.
You will also not be able to put any weight on your injured leg.
Follow these instructions at home:
If you have a splint or boot:
- Wear the splint or boot as told by your health care provider. Remove it only as told by your health care provider.
- Loosen the splint or boot if your toes tingle, become numb, or turn cold and blue.
- Keep the splint or boot clean.
- If
the splint or boot is not waterproof:
- Do not let it get wet.
- Cover it with a watertight covering when you take a bath or a shower.
If you have a cast:
- Do notstick anything inside the cast to scratch your skin. Doing that increases your risk of infection.
- Check the skin around the cast every day. Tell your health care provider about any concerns.
- You may put lotion on dry skin around the edges of the cast. Do notput lotion on the skin underneath the cast.
- Keep the cast clean.
- If
the cast is not waterproof:
- Do notlet it get wet.
- Cover it with a watertight covering when you take a bath or a shower.
Bathing
- Do nottake baths, swim, or use a hot tub until your health care provider approves. Ask your health care provider if you can take showers. You may only be allowed to take sponge baths for bathing.
- If your cast, splint, or boot is not waterproof, cover it with a watertight covering when you take a bath or a shower.
- Keep the bandage (dressing) dry until your health care provider says it can be removed.
Incision care
- Follow
instructions from your health care provider about how to take care of your
incision. Make sure you:
- Wash your hands with soap and water before you change your bandage (dressing). If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer.
- Change your dressing as told by your health care provider. Some clear or pale yellow drainage or small amounts of blood on the dressing is normal in the first few days after surgery.
- Leave stitches (sutures), skin glue, or adhesive strips in place. These skin closures may need to stay in place for 2 weeks or longer. If adhesive strip edges start to loosen and curl up, you may trim the loose edges. Do notremove adhesive strips completely unless your health care provider tells you to do that.
Check your incision area every day for signs of infection. Check for:
- Redness, swelling, or pain.
- Fluid or blood. If you have a cast, the blood or fluid may come through as a stain on the cast.
- Warmth.
- Pus or a bad smell.
Managing pain, stiffness, and swelling
- If
directed, put ice on the injured area.
- If you have a removable splint or boot, remove it as told by your health care provider.
- Put ice in a plastic bag.
- Place a towel between your skin and the bag or between the cast and the bag.
- Leave the ice on for 20 minutes, 2–3 times a day.
- Move your toes often to avoid stiffness and to lessen swelling.
- Raise (elevate) the injured area above the level of your heart when you are sitting or lying down.
Driving
- Do notdrive or use heavy machinery while taking prescription pain medicine.
- Do notdrive for 24 hours if you were given a medicine to help you relax (sedative).
- If you have a cast, splint, or boot, ask your health care provider when it is safe for you to drive.
General instructions
- Do notuse the injured limb to support your body weight until your health care provider says that you can. Use crutches or a walker as told by your health care provider.
- Rest your injured ankle as told by your health care provider.
- To
prevent or treat constipation while you are taking prescription pain
medicine, your health care provider may recommend that you:
- Drink enough fluid to keep your urine clear or pale yellow.
- Take over-the-counter or prescription medicines.
- Eat foods that are high in fiber, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and beans.
- Limit foods that are high in fat and processed sugars, such as fried and sweet foods.
- Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your health care provider.
- Do notuse any products that contain nicotine or tobacco, such as cigarettes and e-cigarettes. These can delay bone healing. If you need help quitting, ask your health care provider.
- Do notput pressure on any part of the cast or splint until it has fully hardened. This may take several hours.
- Keep all follow-up visits as told by your health care provider. This is important.
Contact a health care provider if:
- You have redness, swelling, or pain around your incision.
- You have fluid or blood coming from your incision.
- Your incision feels warm to the touch.
- You have pus or a bad smell coming from your incision.
- You have a fever.
- You have nausea or vomiting that does not go away.
Get help right away if:
- You have chest pain or shortness of breath.
- You have numbness in your foot that is getting worse.
- You have a new pain in your calf that comes on quickly and feels like tightness or cramping.
Summary
- After this procedure, it is common to have a small amount of clear drainage from your incision. There will also be bruising and swelling.
- Contact a health care provider if you notice swelling, bruising, and fluid from your incision.
- Raising the affected leg, taking pain medicine, and putting ice on the area will help lessen the pain and swelling.
- Ask your health care provider about the activities that are safe for you.
