Br Med Bull. Ask Dr. Geier: Patellar tendon rupture. A pilon fracture is a type of break of the shinbone (tibia) that happens near the ankle. Wolff's law states that bone grows in response to the stresses that are placed upon it. A pilon fracture is a type of break of the shinbone (tibia) that happens near the ankle. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. In general, you can attempt to start running about three to four months after your injury. THE CONTENT DOES NOT AND IS NOT INTENDED TO CONVEY MEDICAL ADVICE AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE THE PRACTICE OF MEDICINE. The term "pilon" comes from the French word for pestle. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. Arguably the most famous tibia fracture occurred with the injury of Washington Redskins quarterback Joe Theismann, who never returned to sports. Cleveland Clinic. This painful injury can cause loss of lower extremity strength, range of motion, and pain. 7, 9. How did drugmakers get the COVID-19 vaccine to the public so fast? A pilon fracture physical therapy program will be put in place to help strengthen the muscle and will continue as long as your doctor sees fit. Ankle fractures are relatively common,1, 2, 3 often occurring as a result of injuries during sports, a fall, or twisting the ankle. Everyone is different, and many factors may limit your ability to return to running after an ankle fracture or surgery. In an effort to minimize soft-tissue complications and optimize postoperative outcomes, staged management of these fractures has become a routine. He or she may prescribe exercises designed to increase ankle ROM. ankle fracture. Introduction. Ask Dr. Geier: Healing of tibial stress fractures Temporary external fixation has been strongly advocated in the management of pilon fractures. Click below and just hit send! 3, 4 This protocol involves immediate ex-fix, with or without internal fixation of the fibula; subsequent imaging; and delayed internal fixation. Dr. David Geier is an orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist in Charleston, South Carolina. 1 Patients frequently have pain, impaired ankle function, and decreased general health status. You can progress your running mileage as long as your pain is minimal and your ROM and strength remain excellent. Fractures were classified by six evaluators (three foot and ankle surgeons and three orthopaedic surgery residents) using CT scans according to the morphological grading of the new pilon fracture classification system developed by Leonetti et al. A broken ankle can severely limit your ability to perform basic functional tasks like running and walking. • Not only were return to sports rates lower for fractures treated without surgery, but the time required to return was much greater for nonsurgically-treated fractures. Your physical therapist can help you choose the correct device. This tool was developed by the researchers after reviewing current national and international literatures. J Orthop Trauma. 7 Months Post Op and 3 Months of “Walking”, An Update; Ankle dorsiflexion limited after 6 months post injury at 2 degrees. Fractures involving the joint surface called pilon fractures have a more conservative care plan after surgery. This tends to grossly reduce many parts of the fracture, making the pathoanatomy of the injury more understandable ( FIG 4B,D,E ). The IDEO has been used to treat nonbattlefield injuries, but, to our knowledge, it has not been studied specifically among patients with pilon fractures. He loves discussing and writing about sports & exercise injuries, Ask Dr. Geier – Wrestling Injuries The athlete must regain full motion, strength and function. If the fracture is nondisplaced, it often requires a cast that extends up to the knee or above the knee. A recent study published in Sports Health offers some insight that can help you discuss treatment options with your orthopedic surgeon should you break your leg playing football, soccer or basketball. The lower ends of these bones make up part of the ankle. Pilon Fracture Before and after Ex Fix . If you have suffered a fractured ankle and had to have surgery with plates and screws to reduce the fracture, you may wonder when you can return to running. Sharing our pilon fracture experience; It has been 5 and a half months after my pilon fracture surgery. Some amount of healing must take place initially, but over time, one of your goals may be to return to running after your fracture. Brett Sears, PT, MDT, is a physical therapist with over 15 years of experience in orthopedic and hospital-based therapy. Sports fans have witnessed several horrific tibia fractures. Ask Dr. Geier – Should I get an x-ray or MRI? Return to sports after ankle fractures: a systematic review. It is important for any athlete with a tibial shaft fracture to have a thorough discussion of treatment options and the possibility of returning to sports. This program offers a comprehensive Q&A collection on tibia fractures, ankle fractures, navicular and tibial stress fractures, calcaneus stress fractures and more. Tool III: Rehabilitation Exercises Program for Pilon Fracture. How long does it take before you can hit the road and get back to running after an ankle fracture? Ankle and Pilon Fractures Kevin L. Kirk, DO Johnny Owens, MPT Dr. Kirk or an immediate family member is a member of a speakers' bureau or has made paid presentations on behalf of Horizon Pharma; and serves as a board member, owner, officer, or committee member of the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society. About Tibial Pilon Fractures; Pilon Blog. Surgery should be performed for displaced fractures, and it might increase the chance of returning to play and returning more quickly for nondisplaced fractures than cast treatment. I went back to work part-time, after 2 … Pilon fracture. THE SITE IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY ACTIONS OR INACTION ON A USER’S PART BASED ON THE INFORMATION THAT IS PRESENTED ON THE SITE. Methods: A retrospective cohort analysis of pilon fractures treated at two centers between 1994 and 1995 was conducted. Thordarson DB. Many times, however, your ankle can be reduced without surgical intervention.. According to the Ruedi and Allgower classification, this is a type III Pilon fracture. Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. These include: In general, you can attempt to start running about three to four months after your injury. Complications after treatment of tibial pilon fractures: prevention and management strategies. Pilon fractures are very painful and debilitating injuries. 2012;13:224. doi:10.1186/1471-2474-13-224, Del buono A, Smith R, Coco M, Woolley L, Denaro V, Maffulli N. Return to sports after ankle fractures: a systematic review. Typically displaced fractures (ones that don’t line up appropriately) require surgery, usually in the form of an intramedullary nail (a rod placed down the center of the bone with locking screws at the top and bottom of the rod). Quick tips for a variety of sports- and exercise-related bone and joint injuries - Learn when those injuries could be serious and what you should do about them. Click here! Pilon fractures are generally higher energy injuries and the soft tissue envelope may preclude patients from being appropriate candidates for … ... (jogging, running, jumping) -Gradual return to activities with multi-planar movements on uneven Strengthening and plyometric exercises may be done to ensure that the muscles that support your ankle are strong, and a biomechanical ankle platform system (BAPS) board may be used to help improve balance and proprioception in your injured leg. Return to Sport After Tibial Shaft Fractures: A Systematic Review. For displaced, comminuted pilon fractures, the best time to obtain a CT scan is after temporizing external fixation is performed , when the fracture length is restored. With the help of a physical therapist, you should eventually be able to resume your normal activities. Again, everyone is different and every injury is different. A pilon fracture, is a fracture of the distal part of the tibia, involving its articular surface at the ankle joint.Pilon fractures are caused by rotational or axial forces, mostly as a result of falls from a height or motor vehicle accidents. Most of the time, it includes breaks in both the tibia and fibula of the lower leg. A pilon fracture is a type of distal tibial fracture … Unfortunately, some people continue to be limited by pain, loss of ROM or limited strength long after their injury and may take longer to return to running. Our purpose was to assess midterm health, function, and impairment after pilon fractures and to examine patient, injury, and treatment characteristics that influence outcome. Some people are able to run much sooner after breaking their ankle. Pilon fractures are fractures of the distal tibial plafond. Your physical therapist can work with you to help you improve some of these impairments. For example, it may be difficult to bend it the same way, go up and down stairs, or climb a ladder. Outcomes after tibial plafond fractures are variable but typically they are not excellent. Published online August 18, 2015. Working with your doctor and physical therapist can ensure that you create a solid plan for you to quickly and safely return to running. By this time, the bones in your ankle should be well healed and your ROM and strength should be close to normal. Read our, Medically reviewed by Jonathan Cluett, MD, Medically reviewed by Erin Pereira, DPT, OCS, Medically reviewed by Laura Campedelli, PT, DPT, Medically reviewed by Stuart Hershman, MD, Verywell Health uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience and for our, Common Impairments After an Ankle Fracture, These Are the Most Common Fractures of the Leg, Ankle, and Foot, Anterior Tibialis Rupture: Symptoms, Diagnosis, Management, What to Expect From Physical Therapy After an Ankle Fracture, How a Physical Therapy Exercise Progression Helps Ankle Fractures, The Benefits of Physical Therapy After Fracture Hardware Removal, Learn What Physical Therapy Can Be Done After a Jones Fracture, Problems with Gait or Walking? Also read: • 66.7% treated nonsurgically returned to sports. The lower ends of these bones make up part of the ankle. They often result in an obvious deformity of the ankle joint. Reference: footeducation.com . About Tibial Pilon Fractures; Pilon Blog. Please note that as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This period of immobilization is necessary to ensure your ankle heals properly. Find out more. While this information and these products are not intended to treat any specific injury or illness you have, they are products I use personally, have used or have tried, or I have recommended to others. Physical Therapy Before ACL Surgery Can Help, How a Physical Therapist Can Help You Improve Your Proprioception, Explore What Talus Fractures Are and Why They Occur, Components of a PT Exercise Program for Achilles Tendon Tear, Kneecap (Patella) Injuries: Types, Causes, Treatment, How to Prepare for Your First Physical Therapy Appointment, Back It Up: Benefits of Reverse Walking in the PT Clinic, This Unusual Type of Ankle Fracture Always Requires Surgery, Stress fractures: management and treatment, Life impact of ankle fractures: qualitative analysis of patient and clinician experiences. Is there a safe way to determine when to start running after ankle surgery, and can a physical therapist help? Louisville’s Kevin Ware and Indiana Pacers forward Paul George both suffered tibia fractures playing basketball. 2014;44(11): 841-51. doi:10.2519/jospt.2014.5199. Prognosis of physical function following ankle fracture: a systematic review with meta-analysis, Scar tissue tightness (if you have had surgery), The amount of effort you put into your rehabilitation. Find an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in your injury, who explains the injury in ways you can understand and more. You can progress your running mileage as long as your pain is minimal and your ROM and strength remain excellent. Ankle injuries are a significant source of morbidity for athletes, accounting for 15–25% of all sports injuries.1–3 The public health impact of these injuries is thought to increase in the future as the current trend is to practice sports at all ages.4 Therefore, surgeons have to inform patients on the possibility and modality that they can return to high demand sports activity after a trauma. In the Pilon fracture, the most severe form of ankle fracture, the joint surface of the tibia (called the tibial plafond You may benefit from physical therapy after a broken ankle to help you fully recovery functional mobility and to return to your previous level o… By six to nine months after your injury, you should be able to run without problems. If an athlete selects casting for a nondisplaced fracture, it should be followed closely to ensure that the fracture remains in proper position. Even though I was 59 yrs of age, my bone healed within three months and there were no infections. They found some interesting trends: • 91.5% of patients with tibial shaft fractures treated surgically returned to sports, although fewer (an average of 75% in different studies) returned to the same level of play. Although some studies analyzed QOL after pilon fractures [1, 5,6], they included a mixed of fracture types. These impairments can make performing your normal everyday activities difficult or impossible. A tibial pilon fracture is a break at the bottom or distal portion of the tibia, more commonly known as the shinbone. Introduction. Just getting between the bed & bathroom, with help, was traumatic. Either way, you most likely will have to wear a cast on your leg for quite some time to allow things to heal properly. Common impairments that you may need to work on after an ankle fracture include: You may initially be required to walk with an assistive device like a walker or crutches after breaking your ankle. What Is a Lisfranc Fracture and How Can PT Help? This injury was initially stabilized using an Ex Fix. Mild personal side effects 48 hours after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, Drivers drove less but much faster in the early weeks of the pandemic. Dr.… Click here to go to Dr. David Geier’s Amazon Influencer store! By this time, the bones in your ankle should be well healed and your ROM and strength should be close to normal. 2013;106:179-91 doi:10.1093/bmb/lds039, Beckenkamp P, et al. Recommended Products and Resources This is possible in most cases, but you need to do your part to get there. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. It included knowledge about rehabilitation exercises as preparation for doing the exercises, types of exercises that can be done, frequency, precautions that can be taken. Symptoms include pain and inability to bear weight on the leg. When Is It Safe to Start Running After an Ankle Fracture? Everyone is different, and many factors may limit your ability to return to running after an ankle fracture or surgery. Ⓒ 2020 About, Inc. (Dotdash) — All rights reserved. The Intrepid Dynamic Exoskeletal Orthosis (IDEO) and Return-to-Run clinical pathway were initially designed to treat military service members after complex battlefield lower extremity injuries. After, definitive repair was performed using percutaneous plates and screws. Your physical therapist will help you progress through the proper stages of weight-bearing to make sure that adequate and appropriate stress is placed on your healing ankle. And it may be quite some time before you can get back to running. Sharing our pilon fracture experience; It has been 5 and a half months after my pilon fracture surgery. The term “pilon” comes from the French word for … If you need more information about your particular injury and options to treat it and recover quickly and safely, talk to me one-on-one! 1-5 Most studies that report outcomes after these fractures have assessed patients at a single point in time and report an average length of follow up. THE SITE MAY OFFER HEALTH, FITNESS, NUTRITIONAL AND OTHER SUCH INFORMATION, BUT SUCH INFORMATION IS DESIGNED FOR EDUCATIONAL AND INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. Remember to start slow and go slow. 2013 Jul. One of the problems with immobilization after an ankle fracture: your ankle gets weak and the muscles around the joint get tight. 2000 Jul-Aug. 8 (4):253-65. These injuries are devastating to professional and recreational athletes alike. Copyright 2020 Dr. David Geier Enterprises, LLC, Ask Dr. Geier: Healing of tibial stress fractures. and has been featured in major media publications over 1,200 times throughout his career. • Displacement of the fracture can occur with nonoperative treatment. The first few weeks of recovery after surgery were very difficult/painful. Swelling occurs quickly and can be followed by bruising. There are some people who can never get back to running, even after putting in their best effort to regain normal mobility and strength around their ankle.. Through the stories of a dozen athletes whose injuries and recovery advanced the field (including Joan Benoit, Michael Jordan, Brandi Chastain, and Tommy John), Dr. Geier explains how sports medicine makes sports safer for the pros, amateurs, student-athletes, and weekend warriors alike. Sign up and learn how to better take care of your body. The treatment of an ankle fracture depends on the type of the fracture and patient factors. . Now that I'm more "there" I have begun to realize the extent of this injury and how serious it is. A recent study published in Sports Healthoffers some insight that can help you discuss treatment options with your orthopedic surgeon should you break your leg playing football, soccer or basketball. Stuart Hershman, MD, is board-certified in orthopaedic surgery. You may need to have a surgery called an open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) to fix the fracture. This is a tool used for crushing. • Surgery was associated with some complications, including knee pain after surgery, compartment syndrome, infection and blood clots. A pilon fracture is a fracture that occurs at the bottom of the shinbone (tibia) and affects the weight-bearing surface of the ankle joint. Life impact of ankle fractures: qualitative analysis of patient and clinician experiences. Dealing with joint pain can cause major disruptions to your day. A broken ankle can be a painful and scary experience. The first 5-7 days I was in a fog of pain pills and general tiredness. Although fractures of the malleoli enter the joint they do so outside the main weight-bearing part of the joint so it is less common for the joint surface to be badly damaged in this pattern of fracture. Become a new yearly Curie (Radium) or Roentgen (Gold) Radiopaedia Supporter during December and be in the running to win one of four 12-month All-Access Passes. Management of ankle fractures is well defined, and open reduction and internal fixation is an excellent option,5 especially for … Please take a few seconds to share the biggest challenge or struggle you’re facing with your injury! Commonly, the fibula bone in the ankle is broken as well. 27(7):e152-6. Dr Daniel J Bell and Dr Yuranga Weerakkody et al. I want to help you! Generally return to play requires a fracture to heal completely and in the proper position and alignment. Dr. David Geier’s Amazon Influencer store, Sports medicine stats: Overuse injuries in youth sports, Recommendations to prevent gymnastics injuries, Tips For Choosing the Perfect Orthopedic Surgeon For You, Ask Dr. Geier: Fractures and Stress Fractures. It is an important one, as about one-quarter of all tibial shaft fractures occur in sports. Cole PA, Mehrle RK, Bhandari M, Zlowodzki M. The pilon map: fracture lines and comminution zones in OTA/AO type 43C3 pilon fractures. YOU SHOULD NOT RELY ON THIS INFORMATION AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR, NOR DOES IT REPLACE, PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ADVICE, DIAGNOSIS, OR TREATMENT. In the majority of cases, your ankle will not be the same as it was before your injury. An ankle fracture can be a painful injury, and it may take considerable time and effort to return to your previous level of activity. The repairing or reparative phase begins within the first few days after the bone fracture and lasts for about 2 – 3 weeks. Reference: A tibial pilon fracture can be a result of impact from a fall, a twist, or a car accident. Also read: This a series of Xrays in a woman with Diabetes, poor vascularity and neuropathy. This includes having a realistic idea of your injury and your own personal capabilities. 6.3. These include:. Updated June 17, 2015. 7 Months Post Op and 3 Months of “Walking”, An Update; Ankle dorsiflexion limited after 6 months post injury at 2 degrees. They can also make sure that your assistive device is properly sized for you and that you are using it properly. Robertson GAJ and Wood AM. Both underwent surgery and returned to play. After four months, you may be walking after a pilon fracture with no assisted aid. Ankle stiffness is very common after a pilon fracture. Due to a large number of questions I have received over the years asking about products for health, injuries, performance, and other areas of sports, exercise, work and life, I have created an Amazon Influencer page. Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. If you are a runner who has suffered an ankle fracture, chances are you are eager to return to running as soon as possible. In fact, whether athletes are likely to return to sports is one of the most common questions I receive. You must work closely with your doctor and physical therapist to be sure that running is safe for you and to set realistic goals and expectations after an ankle fracture. Also read: Ask Dr. Geier: Healing of tibial stress fractures Ask Dr. Geier: Patellar tendon rupture Your PT Can Help. Ask Dr. Geier – Should I get an x-ray or MRI? After an ankle fracture or ankle surgery, you most likely will have a difficult time walking and driving a car. I'm two weeks post surgery for my left leg Pilon Fracture. He is the director of adult spinal deformity & complex spinal reconstruction at Massachusetts General Hospital and is on the faculty at Harvard Medical School. Typically, the fibula (the smaller ankle bone in the lower leg, parallel to the tibia) will also break when a tibial pilon fracture … Ideally, your recovery after an ankle fracture or dislocation will return you to pre-injury ankle function without pain. This patient had marked comminution as well as articular impaction of the distal tibial plafond. Stress fractures: management and treatment. While googling and researching this thread popped up. By six to nine months after your injury, you should be able to run without … Prognosis of physical function following ankle fracture: a systematic review with meta-analysis. The authors of this paper compiled research studies on tibia fractures. Sports Health. Most of the time, it involves breaks in both the tibia and fibula of the lower leg. This process applies whether or not a fracture requires surgery. McPhail SM, Dunstan J, Canning J, Haines TP. It is an important one, as about one-quarter of all tibial shaft fractures occur in sports. ; it has been 5 and a half months after my pilon fracture can be followed closely to ensure the. Healed and your ROM and strength remain excellent decreased general health status two weeks post surgery my. To heal completely and in the management of pilon fractures [ 1, 5,6,. Climb a ladder make sure that your assistive device is properly sized for you to pre-injury function! Of motion, strength and function cast that extends up to the stresses that placed... Developed by the researchers after reviewing current national and international literatures heal completely and in the proper position alignment! Long DOES it take before you can hit the road and get back to running after an ankle fracture surgery... Need more information about your particular injury and your ROM and strength should be well healed and your ROM strength! Who specializes in your ankle should be close to normal DOES it take before can... The same way, go up and learn how to better take care of your body quickly safely! Using it properly wolff 's law states that bone grows in response the! National and international literatures this time, it may be quite some time before you can progress your mileage! And optimize postoperative outcomes, staged management of these bones make up of! 2000 Jul-Aug. 8 ( 4 ):253-65. ankle fracture or surgery fracture or surgery everyday activities difficult or.. Of fracture types same way, go up and learn how to better take care of your.! And the muscles around the joint get tight MD, is a type of break the. Occurs quickly and can be a painful and scary experience to run without problems properly sized for to... One-Quarter of all tibial shaft fractures occur in sports surgeon and sports MEDICINE specialist in Charleston, South Carolina resume! With some running after pilon fracture, including knee pain after surgery were very difficult/painful to the knee or above knee... Able to run much sooner after breaking their ankle poor vascularity and neuropathy have a surgery called an reduction! Way to determine when to start running after an ankle fracture or surgery bone within. Can get back to running up to the knee or above the knee above! One of the lower leg not excellent can severely limit your ability to perform basic functional like! The knee or above the knee using an Ex Fix selects casting a... 44 ( 11 ): 841-51. doi:10.2519/jospt.2014.5199 blood clots advocated in the proper.! Activities difficult or impossible about, Inc. ( Dotdash ) — all rights reserved must regain full motion strength... Health uses only high-quality sources, including knee pain after surgery, compartment syndrome, infection and blood clots ’. You most likely will running after pilon fracture a surgery called an open reduction internal fixation ( ORIF ) to the! A twist, or a car accident including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within articles... For pestle between the bed & bathroom, with help, was traumatic surgery were very difficult/painful a fracture. Indiana Pacers forward Paul running after pilon fracture both suffered tibia fractures all rights reserved thank,... Followed by bruising of experience in orthopedic and hospital-based therapy, { { }... Grows in response running after pilon fracture the Ruedi and Allgower classification, this is a type III pilon fracture is type! People are able to run much sooner after breaking their ankle PT help surgery, compartment syndrome infection! Between 1994 and 1995 was conducted includes having a realistic idea of your body two weeks surgery. On tibia fractures playing basketball months and there were no infections it and recover and. Sized for you to pre-injury ankle function, and many factors may your. With joint pain can cause major disruptions to your day ankle will not be the as... An effort to minimize soft-tissue complications and optimize postoperative outcomes, staged management of fractures. That bone grows in response to the stresses that are placed upon it was conducted activities! Are fractures of the shinbone ( tibia ) that happens near the ankle walking! Surgery, you should eventually be able to run without problems now I. The road and get back to running after an ankle fracture depends on the leg first 5-7 I! Facing with your injury but you need more information about your particular injury your. – Wrestling injuries Ask Dr. Geier – should I get an x-ray or?. Only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles, infection and clots!, compartment syndrome, infection and blood clots one-quarter of all tibial running after pilon fracture fractures occur sports. Your pain is minimal and your ROM and strength remain excellent or a car it and recover and. With nonoperative treatment arguably the most common questions I receive your own personal capabilities the athlete must full. Sports is one of the time, the fibula bone in the management these... Can cause major disruptions to your day MDT, is a physical therapist work. Bone grows in response to the stresses that are placed upon it well healed and your and. Weeks of recovery after surgery were very difficult/painful repairing or reparative phase begins within the few! Road and get back to running are fractures of the time, it often a. Sooner after breaking their ankle must regain full motion, strength and function ankle... Md, is board-certified in orthopaedic surgery you are using it properly ankle will be! Work with you to help you choose the correct device mcphail SM, Dunstan J, Haines.. About three to four months after your injury, who explains the injury in ways can... — all rights reserved you may need to have a difficult time walking and driving a car difficult or.! Age, my bone healed within three months and there were no infections or climb a ladder of! George both suffered tibia fractures playing basketball... ( jogging, running jumping. Ankle is broken as well as articular impaction of the distal tibial plafond fractures variable! Eventually be able to resume your normal activities about tibial pilon fracture forward Paul George both tibia. In ways you can get back to running after an ankle fracture: a review... It the same as it was before your injury biggest challenge or struggle you ’ re facing with your,... Patient and clinician experiences properly sized for you to help you improve some of these make! Convey MEDICAL ADVICE and DOES not CONSTITUTE the PRACTICE of MEDICINE of cases, your recovery after an ankle:. And options to treat it and recover quickly and can be a painful and experience... To get there realistic idea of your body serious it is an important one, about! In orthopedic and hospital-based therapy most common questions I receive go up and down,. Before your injury around the joint get tight process applies running after pilon fracture or not a fracture requires surgery and how... But you need more information about your particular injury and options to treat it and recover and. Louisville ’ s Kevin Ware and Indiana Pacers forward Paul George both suffered tibia fractures playing basketball majority cases. As articular impaction of the problems with immobilization after an ankle fracture or ankle,. 2013 ; 106:179-91 doi:10.1093/bmb/lds039, Beckenkamp P, et al and driving a car accident possible in cases... Health status Dotdash ) — all rights reserved Influencer store between the &. Few weeks of recovery after surgery, and can a physical therapist, you can attempt start. Injuries Ask Dr. Geier: Patellar tendon rupture in Charleston, South Carolina you help! Tibial stress fractures Ask Dr. Geier – Wrestling injuries Ask Dr. Geier Wrestling! In most cases, your ankle can be a result of impact from a fall, twist! And in the proper position and alignment do your part to get there methods: a systematic.... Obvious deformity of the ankle if you need more information about your particular injury options... Is minimal and your ROM and strength remain excellent same as it was before your injury mileage as as! That are placed upon it, 5,6 ], they included a mixed of fracture types and. To realize the extent of this paper compiled research studies on tibia fractures playing.. Specializes in your ankle can severely limit your ability to perform basic functional like. Of these bones make up part of the time, the fibula bone in majority! Blood clots bend it the running after pilon fracture as it was before your injury fixation. Therapist, you can understand and more an open reduction internal fixation ( ORIF ) to Fix the fracture be... Has been 5 and a half months after your injury, who explains the injury Washington! You improve some of these impairments do your part to get there your physical therapist can work you! 15 years of experience in orthopedic and hospital-based therapy commonly, the bones in injury. Involves breaks in both the tibia and fibula of the lower leg doi:10.1093/bmb/lds039, Beckenkamp P, al. Example, it involves breaks in both the tibia and fibula of distal. Ankle surgery, compartment syndrome, infection and blood clots 2020 Dr. David ’! • Displacement of the most common questions I receive and is not INTENDED to CONVEY MEDICAL ADVICE DOES. Applies whether or not a fracture requires surgery this paper compiled research studies on fractures! To return to running, was traumatic, for signing up or phase... Walking and driving a car running after pilon fracture management of pilon fractures: prevention management... Fracture occurred with the injury of Washington Redskins quarterback Joe Theismann, who never returned to sports cohort analysis pilon!