Ankle Fracture Instructions
General Instructions:
Call your surgeon if you develop any of the following:
- Temperature above 101 degrees
- Persistent nausea and vomiting
- Severe pain not relieved by your pain medication
- Excessive bleeding or drainage on the dressing
- Coldness or paleness of the operative extremity
- Take pain medication with food as prescribed
- The pain medication may cause nausea or vomiting
- Resume your normal medication
- Resume your diet as tolerated
- No strenuous activity without Dr. Hansen’s permission
- If you have not yet made your post-op appt, call Dr. Hansen’s office to do so.
Specific Instructions:
Please follow your surgeon’s specific postop instructions carefully, including:
- Keep foot elevated above heart for 48 to 72 hours. Short periods (<5 minutes) with your foot down are ok, but you may notice pain and swelling. Elevation helps with swelling and pain control and can be used for the first month after surgery.
- Ice consistently. On for 20 minutes then off for 20 minutes, keep alterating on and off for the first 72 hours. The “off” period should prevent skin burning from the ice. Keep splint or dressing clean and dry. Do not remove the splint. If it feels too tight call Dr. Hansen or remove the ace wrap and gently loosen it.
- May shower 48 hours after surgery with plastic cast cover or do sponge baths. Make sure dressing is dry afterward; call the office if it becomes wet.
- Take special care to protect your foot and toes if you received a nerve block. Wiggle toes and bend knee several times throughout day to prevent stiffness. Do not put any weight on the operative leg.
- You may resume your regular medications unless instructed by Dr. Hansen. Call Dr. Hansen’s office at 801-262-8486 to report any problems.
Blood Clot Prevention
We ask you to monitor yourself for blood clots. Please call the office if you experience:
- Calf pain
- Calf or thigh swelling that does not improve with elevation
- Shortness of breath or chest pain
- All patients should try to move (or crutch) around five times daily.
- A TED stocking is also used for the first two to four weeks on the opposite leg.
- If instructed by Dr. Hansen, take Enteric Coated Aspirin 325 mg one time daily for two weeks to prevent a blood clot. If you have a history of stomach ulcers or bleeding, please inform Dr. Hansen.
General anesthesia patients and patients using prescription pain medication: For the next 24 hours, DO NOT:
Drink any alcohol Make any important decisions Drive or operate any heavy equipment
For any questions or concerns feel free to call Dr. Hansen at 801-262-8486 and his secretary or the night phone referral system will be able to contact him.