Causes of Delayed Healing After Ankle Surgery

Several bones connect at the ankle, with a few muscles and tendons in the mix for smooth movements. With such an intricate design, it’s no wonder ankle fractures are more complex than those sustained by other bones. In fact, delayed healing is a common complaint after ankle surgery, requiring ongoing treatment for a full recovery.

To avoid complications and speed up healing time, rehabilitation is often required, including physical therapy. Your medical team determines safe exercises, necessary walking aids, and all other treatment aspects. It’s crucial to follow their advice closely to ensure the bones join properly and regain full range of motion. Learning what delays healing is also vital, which we’ll discuss in the following sections.

Delayed healing after ankle surgery

Possible Causes of Delayed Healing After Ankle Surgery

Unfortunately, complications after ankle surgery often result in delayed healing. There are several possible causes, some are more concerning than others.

Putting too much weight on the ankle before it’s ready could prevent recovery. Doing so can disrupt the healing process, causing screws, plates, or the bones themselves to shift or move. Incisions could also tear open under excess weight, requiring medical attention to repair the damage.

Infection occurs when bacteria enter the body through an open wound, such as broken skin or surgical incisions. Failure to keep the wound clean may also lead to contamination. Infections cause delayed healing after ankle surgery, requiring treatment before the body can continue its recovery.

After surgery, you may spend less time moving around, increasing the risk of blood clots and deep vein thrombosis. Blood clots can occur after surgery due to several factors related to the body’s response to the surgical procedure and the resulting changes in blood flow and circulation.

Blood clots cause issues in the affected area but are more dangerous if they break loose. They could travel to the lungs, heart, or brain, causing severe damage or death.

They also happen due to prolonged bed rest, and reduced mobility. After surgery, patients often have reduced mobility, which can lead to decreased blood flow in the veins, particularly in the legs. This stagnation increases the risk of clot formation.

Smoking cigarettes reduces blood flow, preventing oxygen and vital nutrients from reaching the injured area. These are essential components for recovery after ankle surgery, and without them, healing is delayed.

Other complications after surgery could include excessive pain, posttraumatic ankle osteoarthritis, arthrofibrosis, implant breakage, or malunion. Though these aren’t common complaints, they could lengthen recovery time.

Symptoms

The symptoms of delayed healing after ankle surgery vary, depending on what’s slowing your recovery. For instance, an infection causes redness, pain, warmth, unpleasant odors, and pus leaking from the affected area. Fever and chills are also common signs of germ infestation.

A non-union also causes pain and tenderness, though swelling and weakness are other symptoms to watch for. If you’re dealing with malunion, a noticeable bump may be present where the bone healed improperly.

Limited range of motion or stiffness in the ankle joint, which does not improve with physical therapy or exercises.

Persistent or worsening swelling in the ankle, which doesn’t decrease with elevation or other recommended measures.

Other symptoms

Other possible symptoms of delayed healing after ankle surgery could include discoloration, cramping, numbness, bleeding, shortness of breath, or chest pain.

Continued difficulty or pain when trying to bear weight on the ankle, despite following weight-bearing guidelines.

Elevated body temperature or fever, which could be a sign of infection or inflammation.

Changes in skin color around the surgical site, such as a bluish or purplish hue, which may indicate circulation issues. Persistent numbness or tingling in the ankle or foot, which might suggest nerve issues. Incidentally, nerve damage is another common sign of delayed healing after ankle surgery.

Unexplained weakness in the ankle or foot that affects movement and function, or abnormal sensations. Feeling of abnormal sensations or ‘pins and needles’ in the ankle or foot.

Do speak to your doctor if you notice these or any other post-surgical issues.

Recovery time varies after an ankle fracture, depending on the damage and surgical procedure needed. But in most cases, you should be able to return to your pre-surgery routine within 3 months. It also isn’t abnormal for those with severe injuries to spend 6 to 12 months getting back on their feet.

Resources:

This article is for educational and informational purpose only and does not substitute for professional medical advice. For any questions about your own health condition, speak to a qualified physician or healthcare provider.