Avulsion fracture of the ankle

[greygirlie]

Ten days ago I managed to mis-step off the trailer ramp and went over on ankle. Have small fracture which isn't misplaced, but ligament has torn off bone, taking a small chip with it.
Got a walking boot, and can walk a few steps without it. Still quite a lot of swelling and bruising coming out.
Wondering how quickly I might get back on the pony. Does anyone have any experience of avulsion fracture?
Hoping to drive in a few days, car is auto and it's left ankle. Imagine that getting on and off pony will be the challenge!

 

[exracehorse]

Not sure if your be covered on your insurance to drive in a boot. I broke my leg last year with spiral fracture to ankle as well. Cast two weeks. Then boot. At four weeks I chucked the boot and wore an ankle strap plus hiking boots for support. Was riding at 5 weeks. However... rising trot was painful and my leg was shorter than the other so dropped a hole on my stirrup leathers.

 

[exracehorse]

 

[[146606]]

It varies hugely. Make sure you get a follow up at the fracture clinic (even if they try to fob you off) and get some physio too. I had an avulsion fracture and ended up with multiple surgeries as they said it was "just an avulsion fracture" and wouldn't rexray to check all was OK. It hadn't united and I ended up with little bone anchors to reattach the bone/ligament as I kept falling over as it was so unstable. I then had further surgery to clear scar tissue and a steroid injection to help with pain. My example is a pretty bad one, most aren't anything like that and you can recover really quickly and I'm sure you will. Just take it easy, don't push things too much, try to do gentle movements regularly so it doesn't stiffen up (unless your doc/physio says not to) and be careful on uneven ground for a while. I was very wobbly. Hope you feel better soon ?

 

[MidChristmasCrisis]

Be careful you really need to heal properly and it takes 12 weeks for new bone to stop being sticky and to start to harden. I wore my boot for less time than recommended, kept working and got back earlier than 12 weeks... Three years later I have terrible stabbing pain if I take a step backwards in a particular way and my full range of flexion has been reduced...so don’t rush...the getting on will be ok the getting off and landing on your feet may not be.

 

[Trouper]

Definitely take your time - even basic healing takes 6 weeks. It will pay dividends in the long term as others have already indicated. And I would think about learning to mount from the "other" side to avoid such stress on a recently healed ankle. Good luck.

 

[Billyandme]

I smashed my ankle pretty severely at the beginning of May. Even the Surgeon commented that it was a very serious injury. Having seen the xrays post operation I fully understand it. Titanium plate on 1 side, multiple pins plus a large hook. I have followed the Surgeon's instructions completely. It has been hard. I have now regained practically a full range of movement but am still not allowed to ride until mid October.

It's tough but at the age of 65.I want to ensure I make the best possible recovery. Sadly I had to make the decision to have my horse pts. He had caused the accident to happen and the ankle fracture was the last of many injuries I had sustained because of him.

Please be careful and take your time with your recovery.

 

[greygirlie]

Thank you for useful feedback. I'm 63, with osteoporosis, so want to do everything I can to make sure it heals well, and will try not to rush back too quickly. Was not impressed with the fracture clinic - no physio and no follow up appointment, although I have an open appointment for six months which I can use I suppose. Am very grateful that it's not worse, and sympathise with those of you with more severe injuries.

Luckily pony is an angel, and has been taught to stand still whichever side I climb aboard from. Having missed the second half of last year's winter trec season because she bruised a tendon, looks as if we'll miss the first half of upcoming season (if it's on) because I'll not be running around leading her for unmounted obstacles

 

[Ceriann]

I had an avulsion fracrture of the talus bone in my ankle after a fall. Its a funny bone for healing so had a scan as well as x-rays. Cast for 6 weeks and to be honest I found the period post the cast coming off quite difficult, taking my physio pretty seriously to make sure i walked properly etc. I got back on about 4 months post injury when the ankle and leg felt strong enough. No issues since.

 

[IrishMilo]

I got an avulsion fracture to my left foot and I took me about 6 or 7 weeks to drive, possibly longer - my car's not an auto and I found using the clutch just way too painful. Even when it was OK to walk on I really paid for it the next day if I drove. I was told to use a boot but I found it way too irritating so I didn't - it took me a while to be up and about normally - I think about three months. I've broken my shoulder (properly, not just avulsion) and it was much less painful.

 

[fusspot]

I turned my right ankle over 3 years ago and heard the crack straight away.I had pulled a small piece of bone off but as the doctor told me,we cannot say if you have pulled the ligament off the bit of bone too.I was in a walking boot,didn’t want to re X-ray.Did as told but my Insurance wouldn’t cover me until 6 weeks for driving.I had to have 2 operations,1 6 months after to get the ankle bone to regenerate and a steroid injection, then a year later a ligament shortening plus more steroid injections.I was told at the start that the slight fracture wasn’t going to be a problem,it’s the ligament damage that will have been caused.

 

[Winters100]

I'm afraid that my advice would be don't ride until you get the all clear from the doctor, otherwise you could be facing a lot more problems down the line.

 

[greygirlie]

Well the medics don't want to see me again, unless there's problems, GP not bothered. No referral for physio. So I'll take it easy and see what happens. May have to do some shouting if I run into problems.