Ankle Arthroscopy (cont.)

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Medical Author:

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.

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Medical Editor:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

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After the Procedure

You will be taken to the recovery room for monitoring while waking up from the anesthesia.

Some people may be allowed to bear weight with crutches.
Others may be placed in an immobilizer for as long as six weeks. The type of repair made during the procedure and the surgeon's preference will determine how your ankle may be immobilized.

If extensive surgery or remodeling of the ankle is performed, the surgeon may choose to put your ankle in a cast to prevent you from moving it too early and to promote healing.
If you had an arthroscopy only to establish a diagnosis, the surgeon may put a simple splint or air splint on your ankle.

In general, the area should be kept clean and dry while the incisions are healing.
Pain medicine may be prescribed.
The ankle should be elevated and iced to minimize swelling and to help control pain.