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When to Start Weight Bearing After Ankle Surgery?

Bearing weight on your surgically repaired ankle varies greatly with surgery type, physician and cast type. If you bear weight too soon, you can separate your new ligaments or re-break your newly set bone. With the new technology being incorporated into ankle surgery, some doctors are recommending immediate weight bearing.

  1. The Basics

    • Weight bearing after ankle surgery is a topic still in debate among physicians and physical therapists alike. Generally, bearing weight on your surgically repaired ankle depends on the type of procedure that has been performed, the severity of the injury itself and, of course, the physician's point of view. Sometimes a physician will have a patient wait three weeks before bearing any weight on ankle ligament repairs and four weeks for ankle bone repairs. Now, with the advances in casts and rehabilitation, some doctors are allowing their patients to bear weight within days of their surgical procedure.

    Soft Tissue Repair

    • The differences in surgery types are obvious in soft tissue and bone procedures. Soft tissue procedures consist of ankle stabilization, peroneal tendon repair, tendon transfers, Achilles tendon repair and tarsal tunnel surgery. Waiting to walk on an ankle after one of these repairs is probably the safest bet as separation of the newly attached tendon can occur, resulting in a whole new surgical procedure.

    Bone Repair

    • Bone repairs consist of ankle fusions, pantalar arthrodesis, midfoot fusions, fracture repair and subtalar fusions. Generally, the wait to bear weight on a bone repair depends on the cast used. Softer casts need more time and harder casts will protect the bone much more, allowing you to bear weight on the ankle almost immediately.

    Bottom Line

    • When it comes down to it, asking your physician is the safest way to go. If he feels you need to wait a little longer to bear weight, it's for a reason. If he thinks you can walk out of the hospital the day of the surgery, he will let you know. The general rule of thumb is to wait three weeks for soft tissue and four weeks for bone procedures.

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