Does My Ankle Injury Need Surgery?

The consequences of neglecting Ankle Injury

What exactly is ankle injury?

Ankle injury is classified according to the type of tissue damaged bone, ligament, or tendon. The ankle is the junction of three bones: the tibia and fibula of your lower leg and the talus of your foot. Ligaments, which are strong elastic bands of connective tissue that keep the bones in place while allowing normal ankle motion, hold these bones together at the ankle joint. Tendons connect muscles to bones to allow the ankle and foot to move and keep the joints stable.

Sports injuries are frequently associated with ankle problems. However they more usually happen during sports and fitness activities, after tripping or falling, and when you twist your ankle during any activity. But anyone may twist their ankle and harm it; you don’t even need to be an athlete, regardless of age, you can experience an ankle injury anytime. A painful, incapacitating injury can be brought on by something as easy as walking on an uneven surface. Injury, sprains and fractures, which involve ligaments and bones in the ankle, are the most common ankle injuries. However, a tendon can be torn or strained.

Ankle surgery may cause complications, including:

• Bleeding and blood clots (deep vein thrombosis).
• Damage to nerves or blood vessels in the ankle.
• Infection.
• Joint stiffness or weakness.
• Reactions to anesthesia.

Failure to receive proper treatment for ankle fractures can result in serious and debilitating complications such as:

• High possibility of infection
• Arthritis
• Foot deformities that can make walking difficult

With any ankle injury, it’s critical to have it evaluated by a trained ankle specialist to ensure you get the right diagnosis and care to get you back on your feet as soon as possible and without complications. At Feldman & Leavitt Foot and Ankle Specialists, we are dedicated to providing quality foot and ankle care to all ages of patients.

As a general rule, surgical bunion procedures are performed on an outpatient basis in an Alberta Health Services (AHS) approve Surgical Center or in a Hospital. Surgical procedural costs are covered by AHS or the patient may opt for private surgery to avoid a waiting time.