Surgery Information

Surgery Forms

To better assist you in your preparation and recovery in surgery, please review these documents.

Post-Surgery Information

Most of the surgery that we perform requires immobilization afterward, and each type has a different recovery time.  Ligaments take an average of 6 weeks to heal, so we immobilize the leg to make sure the repair does not spread apart.  Next, we allow progressive weight-bearing and motion in two cast phases followed by physical therapy to rehabilitate our patients back to strength and balance.

Please keep in mind that these are general guidelines, and the particular protocol utilized is always individualized to each patient, and will be determined your surgeon.

MINOR ANKLE PROCEDURE PROTOCOL

• Ankle Arthroscopy
• Hardware Removal
• Ankle Synovectomy

These ankle surgeries are considered more minor and have the advantage that most patients can walk much sooner.  Because we find that our patients are careful during the recovery time, we allow our patients to put full weight on their ankle after their first post-op visit.

• Follow-up in the office 7 days after surgery.  Keep the postoperative dressing dry.  Elevate the leg for comfort.  Ice for comfort.
• 3-4 weeks in a boot walker with full weight-bearing.  This is taken on and off to shower/bathe and sleep.  Motion is encouraged when the boot is taken off.  Remind the provider to consider a compression stocking if you are having trouble with swelling.
• 4-6 weeks of physical therapy if your doctor feels it is necessary.  Careful attention in Physical Therapy will help bring back strength, motion, and flexibility.

STANDARD ANKLE PROCEDURE PROTOCOL

• Brostrom Repair/Ankle Stabilization
• Ankle Arthroscopy with Repair of Osteochondral Defect
• Peroneal Tendon Repair
• Tendon Transfers
• Ankle Fractures
• Repair Achilles Tendon with or without Partial Excision of Calcaneus
• Tarsal Tunnel release
• Total Ankle Replacement
• Tendon lengthening
• Tarsal Coalition

• Follow up to the office 7 days after surgery.  Keep the postoperative dressing dry.  Elevate the leg for comfort. Ice for comfort.
• 3 weeks in a fiberglass cast nonweightbearing.  No weightbearing activities are allowed: no walking, standing, or balancing on the cast. Crutches, a walker, turning leg caddy, or a wheelchair is needed.
• 4-6 weeks in a boot walker.  This initiates a gradual increase to full weightbearing as pain and swelling allow.  The boot is taken on and off to shower/bathe and sleep.  Motion is encouraged when the boot is taken off.  Remind the nurse to consider a compression stocking if you are having trouble with swelling.
• 6 weeks of physical therapy.  Careful attention in Physical Therapy will help bring back strength, motion, and flexibility.

FOREFOOT PROCEDURE PROTOCOL

• Bunion Surgery
• Hammertoe Surgery
• Weil Osteotomy
• Excision Interdigital Neuroma
• Excision Ganglion Cyst
• Cheilectomy
• 1st Metatarsophalangeal (MTP) Joint Fusion
• Bunionette Surgery
• Foot Hardware Removal

Forefoot surgery has the advantage that most patients can walk on their heels.  Because we find that our patients are careful during the recovery time, we allow our patients to put full weight on their heels after their first post-op visit. 

• Follow up to the office 7 days after surgery.  Keep the postoperative dressing dry.  Elevate the leg for comfort.  Ice for comfort.
• 3-5 weeks in a boot walker with weightbearing in boot only.  This is taken on and off to shower/bathe and sleep. Motion is encouraged when the boot is taken off.  Remind the nurse to consider a compression stocking if you are having trouble with swelling.
• 4-6 weeks of physical therapy if your doctor feels it is necessary.  Careful attention in physical therapy will help bring back strength, motion, and flexibility.

MIDFOOT FUSIONS AND/OR OSTEOTOMY PROCEDURES PROTOCOL

• Evans Procedure
• Posterior Tibial Tendon Repair with Calcaneal Osteotomy
• Surgery Lisfranc fractures (tarsometatarsal fractures)
• Subtalar Fusions
• Metatarsal Fractures
• Midfoot Fusions

• Follow up to the office 7 days after surgery.  Keep the postoperative dressing dry.  Elevate the leg for comfort. Ice for comfort.
• 3 weeks in a fiberglass cast nonweightbearing.  No weightbearing activities are allowed: no walking, standing, or balancing on the cast.  Crutches, a walker, knee caddy, or a wheelchair is needed.
• 3 more weeks in a fiberglass cast nonweightbearing.  No weightbearing activities are allowed: no walking, standing or balancing on the cast.  Crutches, a walker, turning leg caddy, or a wheelchair is needed.
• 3 weeks in a boot walker.  This initiates a gradual increase to full weightbearing as pain and swelling allow.  The boot is taken on and off to shower/bathe and sleep.  Motion is encouraged when the boot is taken off.  Remind the nurse to consider a compression stocking if you are having trouble with swelling. 
• 4-6 weeks of Physical Therapy.  Careful attention in Physical Therapy will help bring back strength, motion, and flexibility.

COMPLEX BONY PROCEDURES PROTOCOL

• Ankle Fusions
• Triple Arthrodesis
• Pantalar Arthrodesis
• Talar Fractures
• Calcaneal Fractures
• Tibiotalarcalcaneal Arthrodesis
• Talonavicular Arthrodesis
• Double Arthrodesis

These bony procedures require the most immobilization.  Bones on the average take 7 weeks to heal to about 80% of their normal strength.  Once healed, we progressively stress the bone to accelerate remodeling of the bone and to improve its compression and tensile strength.

Our standard protocol for bone procedures are:

• Follow up to the office 7 days after surgery.  Keep the postoperative dressing dry.  Elevate the leg for comfort.  Ice for comfort.
• 3 weeks in a fiberglass cast nonweightbearing.  No weightbearing activities are allowed: no walking, standing or balancing on the cast.  Crutches, a walker, turning leg caddy, or a wheelchair is needed.
• 3 more weeks in a fiberglass cast nonweightbearing.  No weightbearing activities are allowed: no walking, standing or balancing on the cast.  Crutches, a walker, turning leg caddy, or a wheelchair is needed.
• 3 weeks in a weightbearing cast.  Full weightbearing with no assistive devices is allowed.  It will take time to adjust to walking in a cast. Ice and elevation remain important as you increase your activity level.
• 4-6 weeks in a boot walker.  This initiates a gradual increase to full weightbearing as pain and swelling allow.  The boot is taken on and off to shower/bathe and sleep.  Motion is encouraged when the boot is taken off. Remind the nurse to consider a compression stocking if you are having trouble with swelling.
• 4-6 weeks of physical therapy if your doctor feels it is necessary.  Careful attention in physical therapy will help bring back strength, motion, and flexibility.

DEA Controlled Substance Disposal Site

If you would like to return unused narcotics, the Drug Enforcement Administration has created a website to find nearby controlled disposal locatons.  After entering your zipcode, the site will list all locations within a 50 mile radius.  Click HERE to be redirected to the site. 

Participating Surgery Centers and Hospitals

The following is a list of our participating surgery centers and hospitals.  For more information, please contact our office.