How Long Does Ankle Fracture Take To Heal?

Posted on Wed, 18 May 2016

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Wed, 18 May 2016 Answered on

Sat, 25 Jun 2016 Last reviewed on

Question : Hello, I was told that I have a bimalleolar potts fracture with intra-articular extension of my left ankle and i will need rigid fixation with screws in surgery. My question is, what if i decide not to do the surgery, is the fracture minor enough that i can heal on my own without surgery and walk normal again or is there a strong possibility that it cannot heal correctly and i may walk with a limp and if so, how strong is that possibility on a scale of 1-10?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Praveen Tayal (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
It will heal with cast also.

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for posting your query.
If a surgery is avoided in your case and you continue with a cast for 6-8 weeks then there are chances of healing with stiffness of the ankle joint. You will have to do a regular physiotherapy to decrease the stiffness and regain the full range of movement. You will have to avoid bearing weight on the leg till then.
The limp can persist in 2-3 cases out of 10. While on cast you will need X-ray every 2-3 weeks to see that the bone fragments are not dislocated.
I hope this answers your query.
In case you have additional questions or doubts, you can forward them to me, and I shall be glad to help you out.
Wishing you good health.
Regards.
Dr. Praveen Tayal.
For future query, you can directly approach me through my profile URL http://bit.ly/Dr-Praveen-Tayal

Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar