Lateral Malleolus fracture and torn deltoid ligament
My son has a lateral malleolus fracture and torn deltoid ligament. We saw the orthopod today and he is suggesting ORIF surgery. He said if the deltoid ligament was not torn, he would just put him in a cast. My son is 24, active (this injury occurred playing kickball. He kicked the ball, ankle weakened, and fell to the ground. Because of his age and active life style, the doctor feels this is the best option.
I wanted to get a second opinion, but my son just wants to go forward with the surgery. I just want to be sure surgery is truly necessary. It sounds like it is, but I am not a doctor. So my question, is this pretty much rule of thumb when fracturing the malleolus and a torn deltoid ligament. I might add, his ankle was and is still quite swollen and his the ankle bone appears displaced. Thanks to all.
Re: Lateral Malleolus fracture and torn deltoid ligament
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dorry
My son has a lateral malleolus fracture and torn deltoid ligament. We saw the orthopod today and he is suggesting ORIF surgery. He said if the deltoid ligament was not torn, he would just put him in a cast. My son is 24, active (this injury occurred playing kickball. He kicked the ball, ankle weakened, and fell to the ground. Because of his age and active life style, the doctor feels this is the best option.
I wanted to get a second opinion, but my son just wants to go forward with the surgery. I just want to be sure surgery is truly necessary. It sounds like it is, but I am not a doctor. So my question, is this pretty much rule of thumb when fracturing the malleolus and a torn deltoid ligament. I might add, his ankle was and is still quite swollen and his the ankle bone appears displaced. Thanks to all.
ALso, what are the long term expectations from this type of surgery? Is pain down the road likely, how likely is it that the hardware would need to be removed? Is this a procedure that yields excellent long term results? Is one more likely to have arthritis in the surgical area as one ages?
Re: Lateral Malleolus fracture and torn deltoid ligament
The general rule of thumb is if the ankle is not stable, it is best to fix it with surgery. When the deltoid ligament is torn it generally means it is unstable. So yes, it should probably be fixed, but it sounds like the physician knows what he is talking about.
