Ankle Fracture — Ankle/Foot Fracture Rehabilitation (Operative & Non-Operative)

Mountain Orthopaedics · Mountain Ortho Clinical Team

Weight-Bearing

Strict NWB x 6 wks after surgery; advance WB over 4 wks

Key Restrictions

Complete immobilization in boot/cast wks 1-6; boot for out of bed wks 7-10; boot for work/school wks 11-12; brace until stable proprioception with eyes closed; brace for at-risk activities x 1 year; beware increased swelling/pain = incomplete healing; diabetes patients delay 2-4 wks and progress slowly

Timeline & Phases

Not formally phased; brace schedule: complete immobilization in boot or cast wks 1-6, boot when out of bed wks 7-10, boot for work/school and brace for therapy/home wks 11-12, brace from wk 13 until stable proprioception with eyes closed; PT begins after 6 wks immobilization (active ROM only first 2 wks of therapy, isometrics first week, then closed to open chain; goals: ankle strength 90% of opposite leg, single-leg balance eyes closed 20 sec); return to work: no work wks 0-2, seated work only wks 3-8, boot with limited standing/walking wks 9-12, ankle brace with 30 min/hr standing wks 13-16, regular duty wk 17

Notes

Covers both ankle and foot fractures; bones heal ~70% strength at 7 wks; includes a return-to-work protocol; diabetes modification noted; 1-year brace recommendation for at-risk activities

Surgeon / Author

Mountain Ortho Clinical Team

Published

October 2016