Ankle Fracture, Distal Fibula

Home care

• You will be given a splint, cast, or a special boot to prevent movement at the injury site. Don't put weight on a splint. It will break. Follow your health care provider’s advice about when to begin putting weight on a cast or boot.

• Keep your leg raised when sitting or lying down. When sleeping, place a pillow under the injured leg. When sitting, support the injured leg so it's above heart level. This is very important during the first 48 hours.

• Keep the cast or splint completely dry at all times. When bathing, protect the cast or splint with 2 large plastic bags. Place 1 bag outside of the other. Tape each bag with duct tape at the top end or use rubber bands. Water can still leak in even when the foot is covered. So it's best to keep the cast, splint, or boot away from water. If a fiberglass cast or splint gets wet, dry it with a hair dryer on a cool setting. Do not use a warm or hot setting, as it may burn your skin.

• Do not apply powder or lotion on, near, or inside the cast. Do not try to insert anything in your cast. This can injure your skin, which may lead to infection.

• Place an ice pack over the injured area for no more than 15 to 20 minutes. Do this every 3 to 6 hours for the first 24 to 48 hours. Continue this 3 to 4 times a day as needed. To make an ice pack, put ice cubes in a plastic bag that seals at the top. Wrap the bag in a clean, thin towel or cloth. Never put ice or an ice pack directly on the skin. The ice pack can be put right on the cast or splint. As the ice melts, be careful that the cast or splint doesn’t get wet.

• You may use over-the-counter pain medicine to control pain, unless another pain medicine was prescribed. If you take a blood thinner, have chronic liver or kidney disease, or have ever had a stomach ulcer or gastrointestinal bleeding, talk with your provider before using these medicines.

• Based on your progress and how long you have to stay immobile, your provider may prescribe some medicines to help prevent blood clots in your leg. Be sure to take these medicines for as long as they are prescribed.

• If you have diabetes, extra care and monitoring will be necessary. People who have diabetes are more likely to get an infection or have problems with a wound healing. Follow all of your provider's instructions carefully.

Follow-up care

Follow up with your health care provider in 1 week, or as advised. This is to be sure the bone is healing properly and is in correct alignment. If you were given a splint, it may be changed to a cast or boot after the swelling goes down.

If X-rays were taken, you will be told of any new findings that may affect your care.

When to get medical advice

Call your health care provider right away if any of these occur:

• The plaster cast or splint becomes wet or soft.

• The fiberglass cast or splint stays wet for more than 24 hours.

• There is increased tightness or pain under the cast or splint.

• Your toes become swollen, cold, blue, numb, or tingly.

• The cast or splint becomes loose.

• The cast or splint has a bad smell.

• Sore areas develop under the cast or splint.

• The cast or splint develops cracks or breaks.

• You have sudden pain and swelling, usually in the calf or thigh, when walking or standing up.

• You have sudden shortness of breath, chest pain, or a cough with blood or blood-streaked mucous, or your faint.