- You may shower tonight, letting soapy water run over your incision(s) and patting them dry with a towel. You should avoid submerging the leg (bath, pool, hot tub, etc.) for at least one week.
- You may begin progressive weightbearing in the walking boot. Please refer to the separate handout.
- Use an ace bandage or a thick sock to prevent the boot from rubbing on the incision(s).
- You should come out of the walking boot/brace and perform exercises to maximize your post-op ankle flexibility. You should perform the following exercises twice per day, once in the morning and once in the evening:
- You should work on 3 sets of 15 reps of dorsiflexion (up), eversion (out) but avoid plantarflexion (down) and inversion (in) for now.
- Stretch the Achilles by placing a towel across the ball of your foot and pulling up. Hold each stretch for a five-count and do five repetitions.
- Plantarflexion (down) and inversion (in) may begin at 4 weeks post-op.
- You should continue taking the blood clot prevention medication (aspirin or equivalent) as prescribed until you are at least 4 weeks post-op.
- Physical therapy may begin at 4 weeks post-op. A referral will be provided today.
- I would like to see you back in 4 weeks for your next follow-up appointment. We will obtain new x-rays at that time. If there is appropriate evidence of healing, we will likely have you begin progressive weightbearing in the boot.
Calcaneus Fracture Repair: 2nd Post-op
- You will begin progressive weightbearing in the boot and continue this until your next follow-up. Please refer to the separate handout.
- You may now remove the boot for sleeping and driving.
- You should continue to perform the following exercises to maximize your post-op ankle flexibility. You will do these twice daily, once in the morning and once in the evening:
- Write the alphabet with your foot. Do two repetitions.
- Stretch the Achilles by placing a towel across the ball of your foot and pulling up. Hold each stretch for a five-count and do five repetitions.
- You will continue to ice and elevate the leg as much as possible. Elevating the leg above the level of the heart will reduce the amount of time required to bring down the swelling.
- I would like to see you back in 4 weeks for your next follow-up appointment. We will obtain new x-rays at that time. If there is appropriate evidence of healing, we will likely have you begin transitioning out of the walking boot and into regular shoes.
Calcaneus Fracture Repair: 1st Post-op
- You may shower tonight, letting soapy water run over you incision(s) and patting them dry with a towel. You should avoid submerging the leg (bath, pool, hot tub, etc.) for at least one week.
- You will be strict non-weightbearing in the walking boot.
- Use an ace bandage or a thick sock to prevent the boot from rubbing on the incision(s).
- You will wear the boot at all times (including sleeping), except for the following:
- Bathing/showering
- Exercises
- In a completely controlled environment, for the purpose of icing
- In order to maximize your post-op ankle flexibility, you should come out of the walking boot and preform the following exercises, twice per day:
- Write the alphabet with your foot. Do two repetitions.
- Stretch the Achilles by placing a towel across the ball of your foot and pulling up. Hold each stretch for a five-count and do five repetitions.
- You will continue to ice and elevate the leg as much as possible. Elevating the leg above the level of the heart will reduce the amount of time required to bring down the swelling.
- You should continue taking the blood clot prevention medication (aspirin or equivalent) as prescribed until you are at least 4 weeks post-op.
- I would like to see you back in 4 weeks for your next follow-up appointment. We will obtain new x-rays at that time. If there is appropriate evidence of healing, we will likely have you begin progressive weightbearing in the boot.
Ankle Fracture Repair: 2nd Post-op
- You will begin progressive weightbearing in the boot and continue this until your next follow-up. Please refer to the separate handout.
- You may now remove the boot for sleeping and driving.
- You should continue to perform the following exercises to maximize your post-op ankle flexibility. You will do these twice daily, once in the morning and once in the evening:
- Write the alphabet with your foot. Do two repetitions.
- Stretch the Achilles by placing a towel across the ball of your foot and pulling up. Hold each stretch for a five-count and do five repetitions.
- You will continue to ice and elevate the leg as much as possible. Elevating the leg above the level of the heart will reduce the amount of time required to bring down the swelling.
- I would like to see you back in 4 weeks for your next follow-up appointment. We will obtain new x-rays at that time. If there is appropriate evidence of healing, we will likely have you begin transitioning out of the walking boot and into regular shoes.
Ankle Fracture Repair: 1st Post-op
- You may shower tonight, letting soapy water run over your incision(s) and patting them dry with a towel. You should avoid submerging the leg (bath, pool, hot tub, etc.) for at least one week.
- You will be strict non-weightbearing in the walking boot.
- Use an ace bandage or a thick sock to prevent the boot from rubbing on the incision(s).
- You will wear the boot at all times (including sleeping), except for the following:
- Bathing/showering
- Exercises
- In a completely controlled environment, for the purpose of icing
- In order to maximize your post-op ankle flexibility, you should come out of the walking boot and preform the following exercises, twice per day:
- Write the alphabet with your foot. Do two repetitions.
- Stretch the Achilles by placing a towel across the ball of your foot and pulling up. Hold each stretch for a five-count and do five repetitions.
- You will continue to ice and elevate the leg as much as possible. Elevating the leg above the level of the heart will reduce the amount of time required to bring down the swelling.
- You should continue taking the blood clot prevention medication (aspirin or equivalent) as prescribed until you are at least 4 weeks post-op.
- I would like to see you back in 4 weeks for your next follow-up appointment. We will obtain new x-rays at that time. If there is appropriate evidence of healing, we will likely have you begin progressive weightbearing in the boot.
