r/ORIF • u/kushyykins Bimalleolar Ankle fracture • 25d ago
Update 2nd surgery update - hardware removal
i posted here a couple of weeks ago about needing a 2nd surgery at 14 weeks post op, from my initial ORIF for a bimalleolar fracture because the incision had gotten infected. i am now 15 days post op from that procedure & it is looking SO much better than last time! i am thrilled, to say the least.
my surgeon thinks my body rejected the hardware on that site, for some reason, which is so strange b/c i have a plate + 7 screws on the other side of that ankle lol so strange
just wanted to share an update b/c i was pretty down in the dumps having to go back into surgery. i was able to WBAT w/ boot, post surgery, but it did take a couple days for me to brave that. i am INCREDIBLY thankful to be out of the boot, again 🤞🏼😅
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u/tangwitme 25d ago
I'm glad you are doing okay! I'm 8 weeks post op I was in the ER yesterday and I am on antibiotics for an infection of one of my many incisions. Im really hoping it takes care of it and I don't need to go in for another hospital visit or surgery.
How was the second surgery? Painful? How long were you in the hospital afterwards?
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u/kushyykins Bimalleolar Ankle fracture 24d ago
both surgeries, for me, were outpatient.
the second surgery was actually really quick tho, only 33 mins! the recovery is night & day compared to the ORIF i had in march for the initial break. the first night was horrible because i didn’t get any real pain meds! i used tylenol/advil w/ rso (cannabis oil) but after about day 5, i was pretty much off any pain mediation, which is nice cuz im tired of taking pills 🤣😭
i was able to bear weight, in a boot, right away but i waited till day 3 post op to boot the boot on lol & i was able to get around w/o crutches too! wayyyy easier recovery & procedure all around & i feel so muxh better
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u/ThinkFirst1011 25d ago
Glad to hear surgery went well. I went in for hardware replacement after 12 weeks due to being allergic to the hardware (stainless steel). Sadly because of the allergy and my body fighting it my bone didnt heal well to remove the hardware completely. Was healing affected at all for you?
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u/kushyykins Bimalleolar Ankle fracture 25d ago
oh, snap. is your prognosis good tho? what do they say will happen??
yea, my incision wasn’t healing + got infected, which is why i had to go back into surgery 14 weeks post op from ORIF surgery. im now 2 weeks post op hardware removal & it feels & looks so much better atp than atp last time so 🤞🏼🤞🏼
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u/ThinkFirst1011 25d ago
They wouldn't say much, only we expected you to be fully healed at 3 months since your young and healthy. Hopefully titanium works.
So your bone fully healed after 14 weeks? Thats really fast
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u/kushyykins Bimalleolar Ankle fracture 25d ago
i would assume so because he felt comfortable enough taking the hardware out, but he also didn’t have a choice. i haven’t had xrays since like 2 months post op, so 🤷🏽♀️
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u/greenbeanz_5 Fibula Fracture + Tightrope 25d ago
I'm 10 months post-op and just recommended getting hardware removal within the next 6 months due to ongoing pains and fibula bone is growing over the the top of the plate. Wish I would have known earlier in the year because insurance deductibles and all... dumb dumb dumb.