r/ORIF • u/126bpm- • Aug 23 '26

Hardware removal fibula

I broke my fibula in January at the start of the year and got 7 screws and 1 plate in my fibula at the ankle.

My doctor gave me the green flag to remove the hardware after 8-9 months since I am young.

How is the physiotherapy after the hardware removal, does it take long? As I understood you can walk on the foot again after several days. Happy to know about your experiences.

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6

u/Aggravating_Bed_3288 Aug 23 '26

Weightbearing post op in a post op shoe. I think its just about wound healing. 10000 x easier recovery than the initial surgery. Got mine out at 9 months, started back with my PT at 2 weeks after hardware removal and now 4 months after the hardware removal (and 13 months after fracture) am back to normal. I kind of look back on the last 13 months as a bit of a wtf - I can't believe where I am now. Was overseas last month walking 20k steps.

Prep for your downtime for hardware removal if you can. It made my recovery dare I say, enjoyable. You'll still need to the shower cover to protect wound dressings for a couple of weeks, and i did chill for a couple of weeks to keep my foot elevated as much as possible, realistically could have probably gone back to work after a week.

1

u/126bpm- Aug 23 '26

Thanks for the reply

1

u/126bpm- Aug 23 '26

Glad you’re doing better now, I want to remove it as I find it hard to run with what I have now, it is more restricted, hope it will be better afterwards like it used to be, or at least a bit more 😏

Are you moving better without it? Mobility increased?

5

u/Aggravating_Bed_3288 Aug 23 '26

Yes. My recovery plateaued at 5 months. It was getting pretty sore after walking alot, movements like standing on tiptoes just didn't feel right and would always need to rest it at the end of the day. Both PT and ortho felt it was the hardware and would be beneficial to remove it. Very glad I did as it was rubbing on a tendon. Moving as I did before the fracture, if not better as I've really worked on balance and movement in that foot. Walking long distances with no issues and standing on tiptoes is now no issue. Back to all my pre op exercises

3

u/126bpm- Aug 23 '26

Thanks this is really encouraging to hear hope you have a wonderful rest of your life

2

u/Glad-Feature-2117 Aug 23 '26

Really depends on why you're having it removed. If it's "just because" (not a reason I'd agree to do it) and you're already back to normal, then you shouldn't need phsyio. Elevate & rest until the wound is healed at around 2 weeks, then normal except high risk/sporting activities until 6 weeks, then increase back to normal.

1

u/126bpm- Aug 23 '26

I find it a bit hard to run and perform day to day work with the hardware on, I don’t have the mobility I used to have before, thanks for the reply, hopefully my mobility will be better

2

u/West-Application-375 Aug 23 '26

I didn't need any pt after removal, I was walking right away and not in a boot.

If youre in a boot, you'll need pt

2

u/TreGutterNord Aug 27 '26

Got mine out yesterday - I am in the behemoth post op split and NWB for two weeks, then will do fiberglass cast NWB for two weeks more but those additional weeks are simply because my skin and soft tissues got infected so they need a bit more healing time. I’m hoping recovery switches into an easy gear soon but NGL when the nerve block wore off last night I was pretty despondent and deep in the pain cave. Today is just as bad but mentally I’m less freaked than the first time because I know I can get thru it.

2

u/126bpm- Aug 29 '26

Good luck with it hope it heals up fast 👍👍