Activity
- Ice and elevation along with pain medicine are your keys to initial pain management.
- Ice for 20 minutes each hour over surgical site. DO NOT PLACE DIRECTLY ON SKIN.
- Use a pillow under your calf and ankle. Never place a pillow under your knee or heel.
- Non-weight bearing (NWB) of the operative leg. Use crutches to avoid putting weight on the leg.
Splint/Dressing Change
- Keep the splint clean and dry.
- The splint must stay in place until your follow-up visit with the physician.
- Bathing recommendations while in splint:
- Wrap splint with a durable trash bag and tape watertight to the skin above splint.
- Do not immerse the splint in the bath. Hang splint outside of the tub.
- Showers are not recommended.
- If the splint gets wet, dry the inside as much as possible with a hairdryer on COOL air setting. DO NOT USE HEAT.
Medications
- Norco 7.5/325mg (Hydrocodone/Tylenol). Take 1-2 tabs every 4-6 hours as needed for pain.
- We recommend an over-the-counter stool softener (Colace) as directed while on narcotics to prevent constipation.
- Aspirin 81mg twice daily for 6 weeks to decrease the risk of deep vein thrombosis (blood clots).
- If increased risk for DVT, you will be prescribed Aspirin 325 mg twice daily for 6 weeks.
- Zofran 4mg. Take 1 tab every 4 hours as needed for nausea.
Local Nerve Block
- You may have received an injection into your leg to numb the leg prior to surgery that should relieve much of your pain for about 8-12 hours but may NOT completely eliminate your pain.
- While your leg/foot is numb, do not place objects directly under your heel for support – this may cause pressure sores or infection.
Post-Op Office Appointment
- Please contact the office at (631) 298-4579 to schedule your first appointment for two weeks after surgery.
- 2 weeks: Remove splint, wound check, X-rays, transition to CAM boot.
- 4 weeks: Wound check, X-Rays, clearance to start physical therapy.
- 8 weeks: X-rays, monitor/modify PT progression, clearance to drive at 8.5 weeks if RLE.
- 12 weeks: X-rays, eval for full return to activity.
Emergencies or Concerns
- Contact us at (631) 298-4579 or go to the nearest emergency room.
- Pain worsens or does not go away after pain medication is taken.
- Redness or swelling in your thigh or calf that will not decrease.
- Difficulties moving your toes.
- Develop a fever greater than 100.4 degrees.
- Please note that refills on pain medication will not be approved during evenings or on weekends.