Failed OATS proceedure....now I had a mosaicplasty in May - Foot Problems Message Board

donandpattyt · 06-23-2008, 09:00 AM

Hello everyone.
I guess I am just feeling blah blah and needed some support from everyone on here that knows what I am going through.
In September 2007 I had my first ankle surgery-an OATS procedure. I did my physical therapy...stayed off my feet....five months.....and was still having a lot of pain.
When I went back to my dr, he did an x-ray, and said I needed surgery again because my previous surgery didn't take. The bones had compacted and sorta dropped.
So in May of 2008 I had a mosaicplasty and used a donor bone from a cadaver. I am now 5 weeks post op....still having swelling and pain. I am off my feet again for five months.
My question is this....has anyone else been through this? My surgeon told me that if this surgery doesn't take, then I have to have my ankle fused togeter. I don't want that either.
and how long till this pain goes away??? I only take pain meds at night to help me get to sleep. I am also wearing my bone stimulator for 8-10 hours per night.
I just feel completely useless here at home.

I would appreciate any words of wisdom.
Thanks

akirka · 06-23-2008, 12:30 PM

Hi,

I'm 5 months out from my first (and it better be the only) OATS procedure. My foot in the last month has been pretty pain free and I've been feeling encouraged. What do you mean that you were off your foot for 5 months? When did you start weight-bearing? I was NWB for 3 months and it took me another month to really start walking. This last 2 months I've been doing PT - mostly ROM exercises, biking, walking, strengthening. I've been doing a lot of yardwork the last few weeks. I hope I'm not overdoing it but I feel pretty good. I do still take an Advil once in a while when my foot (usually achilles) starts aching.

Did your Dr. say why the OATS surgery didn't take? Are you wearing a bone-stimulator because you have problems getting your bone to heal? I really hope this surgery works for you. No one wants to think of fusion.

Are you taking any calcium supplements? I'm not much of a vitamin taker but I had a pretty good gap in my osteotomy, started taking calcium, and 12 days later it was x-rayed and the gap was gone!

Hang in there!

Abby

donandpattyt · 06-23-2008, 12:46 PM

Hi Abby,
I was nwb for 3 months, then I had to gradually work my way up to full weight bearing over the next two months. I never got to full weight bearing without a great deal of pain.
My surgeon is not sure why my OATS procedure didn't take. He said what when he went in to do my mosaicplasty that when he touched my bone, it just crumbled...well his expression was (you know what happens to sand when you stick your finger in it, that is what happened to your bone)
My surgery took 4 hours instead of 2 like it was suppose too. So I guess things were pretty complicated in there. The bone stimulator is suppose to help....I hope it does.
I do take calcium chews (3 per day) and a tums every night before I go to bed.
I guess I am just tired of feeling helpless around the house. This has been going on Since Sept of last year. My calf muscle is gone. I am only allowed to sit around with my foot propped up on pillows all day. I had to quit my job.....I just really hate all this.

akirka · 06-23-2008, 12:56 PM

I'm sorry you're having so many troubles! The worst part is you don't know why the OATS failed! Your bone sounds like the lesion they remove from my foot. They said it was like crumbling white chalk. It's so nice to walk on I know! I guess your plug never really did incorporate into your talus and just died. Was it cadaver last time or did they take it from your knee? Even after 2 mo. of PT, my calf is still pretty non-existant. I've decided to embrace it as a very sexy petite part of my body! The only advice I have for you is to try and get outside. If I were you, I would have a lawnchair set outside with your foot propped up with lemonade at my side and let the sun try to cheer you!

Write anytime to grumble!
Abby

mirchanon · 06-23-2008, 02:43 PM

Sorry about your OATS procedure... stick with it.. my microfracture surgery didn't go as well as I hoped either so I''m looking at riskier surgeries now - the same situation you're in.

That said, I hate to be "negative" but the truth is necessary..

Akirka, take good care of that ankle because you're only allowed one OATS..(or ACI). The doctors I've talked to say that once you get OATS (or ACI) that is it. This is unlike microfracture surgery, in which you can get OATs or ACI after should MF fail.

donandpatty: one of my dr's recommended the bone stimulator, while the other DR said there was no proof that it works. I guess being optimistic about it is better than nothing. just thought you should know, in case you are spending your own money on it or something.