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Original poster

Ankle fracture when on holiday

26 replies

Vvvvvvvvvvvvvv · 29/09/2023 03:16

Wise mumsnetters, does anyone happen to have any advice / hints and tips / recommendations on what can make my life a bit easier?

Fractured my ankle whilst on holiday with DH and my 2 year old, now in a cast - how do I fly back? Do I need to buy some genius device that will make all the difference?

OP posts:
Mumof1andacat · 29/09/2023 04:12

Have you been medically cleared to fly?

Nat6999 · 29/09/2023 04:18

Speak to your airline & ask for assistance, they can use a wheelchair to get you on & off the plane. They can also tell you where to find an ordinary wheelchair in the airport to use until boarding or a mobility scooter if there are any available. Can you use crutches at all?

Missingthegore · 29/09/2023 04:25

How long is the flight?
Risk of DVT is higher as you can't move or elevate your leg
May be worth talking to a Dr about anticoagulants if it is long haul

*I'm an Aussie ortho nurse so my concept is skewed as every flight OS is long haul!

Also consider buying a knee scooter as much easier to manage than crutches

sashh · 29/09/2023 06:02

Talk to the airline and the insurance company.

Sometimes the 'split' the cast because you can swell on a plane, this is just as it sounds, they don't remove the cast completely but they cut in to it so that it can expand.

garlictwist · 29/09/2023 06:05

Poor you! How did you do it? My sister was in a car accident on holiday and needed a wheelchair. She spoke to the airline and they put her in the front seat with all the leg room so she could have it out in front of her (don't know what happened to the people who had booked those seats, tough luck I guess).

greenacrylicpaint · 29/09/2023 06:32

poor you.

check with the airline and insurance.
if in a full cast they might not let you fly.

unless on a medical patriation (£££££) you will not be able yo elevate your foot and the swelling can cause flood flow issues inside a full cast.

I 'only' had a simple break & a moon boot/crutches. the 2h flight was very uncomfortable. but flight assistance was fab. had transport (wizzy golf cart) on both sides. had to make my own way up the stairs to the plane which was difficult.

all the best!

Original poster
Vvvvvvvvvvvvvv · 29/09/2023 06:36

Mumof1andacat · 29/09/2023 04:12

Have you been medically cleared to fly?

Not yet but I will be today to fly tomorrow (have spoken to the doctor about this yesterday when they were putting the cast on). Not ideal!

OP posts:
PickledPurplePickle · 29/09/2023 06:44

Get assistance at the airport both ends

Presumably you have crutches too

greenacrylicpaint · 29/09/2023 07:02

airport assistance has to be booked.

and in some cases you have to be at a meeting point a few hours before you usually would.

Original poster
Vvvvvvvvvvvvvv · 29/09/2023 13:25

Thank you all! Spoken to Ryanair (eek!) and airport assistance should be available tomorrow.

OP posts:
TakeMe2Insanity · 29/09/2023 13:28

sashh · 29/09/2023 06:02

Talk to the airline and the insurance company.

Sometimes the 'split' the cast because you can swell on a plane, this is just as it sounds, they don't remove the cast completely but they cut in to it so that it can expand.

This!! So important to get the cast cut.

Original poster
Vvvvvvvvvvvvvv · 29/09/2023 13:29

Missingthegore · 29/09/2023 04:25

How long is the flight?
Risk of DVT is higher as you can't move or elevate your leg
May be worth talking to a Dr about anticoagulants if it is long haul

*I'm an Aussie ortho nurse so my concept is skewed as every flight OS is long haul!

Also consider buying a knee scooter as much easier to manage than crutches

Ohh, thank you! This is exactly what I meant - never heard of a knee scooter but now I need one :)

It is a short haul flight, 2.5 hours, and I've been prescribed Clexane injections so hopefully all covered!

OP posts:
Original poster
Vvvvvvvvvvvvvv · 29/09/2023 13:34

sashh · 29/09/2023 06:02

Talk to the airline and the insurance company.

Sometimes the 'split' the cast because you can swell on a plane, this is just as it sounds, they don't remove the cast completely but they cut in to it so that it can expand.

Thank you! It is apparently a half cast so hard cast on the back of the leg and soft on the front so can expand and doesn't need to be cut.

OP posts:
Original poster
Vvvvvvvvvvvvvv · 29/09/2023 13:35

garlictwist · 29/09/2023 06:05

Poor you! How did you do it? My sister was in a car accident on holiday and needed a wheelchair. She spoke to the airline and they put her in the front seat with all the leg room so she could have it out in front of her (don't know what happened to the people who had booked those seats, tough luck I guess).

Thank you! Embarrassingly, I slipped when walking on a side of a pavement, then fell off the pavement into the road (completely sober I have to add)!

OP posts:
Octavia64 · 29/09/2023 13:36

Flexing your toes (if you can) will help blood flow to the leg.

It will swell up, not much you can do about that but it might hurt to have painkillers available,

Airport Assisstance are generally very good but occasionally they get delayed at the other end, so if they haven't turned up by the time everyone else has got off remind the crew that you are still there

To get you on and off the plane the most common is an ambilift which will lift you to plane level. If it's not available sometimes they use a "chair" machine to get you up and down the steps. I suggest making conversation at the point because if you look at the machine or the ground it's a bit hair-raising!

Octavia64 · 29/09/2023 13:37

Aargh!

NOT hurt to have painkillers

StillWantingADog · 29/09/2023 13:37

Hopefully both doc and ryanair are ok with this. If not your insurer should sort you out somehow.

I have definitely seen people get on return ski flights in the past with limbs in casts etc. quite normal I think.

Maddy70 · 29/09/2023 13:41

Firstly. Hire a mobility scooter fir the rest of your holiday. Arrange assistance at teh airport for your return journey
Enjoy the rest of your stay

LargeglassofRosePlease · 29/09/2023 13:44

You poor thing 💐

chesterlestreet · 29/09/2023 13:57

Once back hire a knee scooter from stride on. They deliver.

Papillon23 · 29/09/2023 13:59

I was amazed how helpful airport assistance was when we went away with a party member with a broken ankle. We weren't able to get up the stairs to the plane and they brought a special lift thing, it was really helpful and all super efficient.

wildwestpioneer · 29/09/2023 14:01

I broke my ankle in the Maldives, flew with Emirates and they were fantastic. They had a wheelchair waiting for me at the airport, went straight through security and baggage. They arranged for me and my DH to have four seats at the front of the plane, so I could put my foot up, we transferred in Dubai and they had a wheelchair waiting for me again, straight through security and baggage. The same when we landed in Manchester Airport, they couldn't have been more helpful. Fingers crossed Ryanair will do the same.

MrsAvocet · 29/09/2023 14:14

I don't claim to be an expert but I have spent more time than the average person with my leg in a cast over the last few years, first after an accident and then subsequently after 5 operations on my damaged foot. I'm currently non weightbearing after my latest surgery.
You need to speak to a doctor about flying so soon after the accident as the DVT risk needs to be considered. If you have a full cast on it may well need to be split for the journey as your leg will probably swell on the flight. However, you may not have a full cast on now as it's not uncommon to split a cast initially after an injury or surgery until the worst of the swelling goes down, so you need to check what you jave and what needs to be done. Have you been given a TED stocking for your uninjured leg and/or any medication to reduce the risk of clots? I had to inject myself with clexane after my original injury but after more recent ops I have been given low dose aspirin. Again, seek medical advice.
As others have said, crutches are hard work, especially whilst you are non weightbearing. I've never tried a kneee scooter but they seem to be popular these days. I was given a leaflet for a company that hires them out after my last operation - I think they're called Stride On - but as I have always managed with crutches before I haven't bothered. Definitely worth a look though and they have a basket on the front which negates the biggest hassle of being on crutches which is carrying stuff!
My top tips if you are likely to be home alone during your recovery are to get whoever you live with to make a fresh flask of coffee up for you before they go out and get a little cool bag to keep cold drinks close to hand too. You can get round carrying other stuff with pockets or a bag but I have yet to find a safe way to carry a hot drink whilst on crutches so get someone else onto that. You need to keep well hydrated to reduce the risk of clots and also the combination of painkillers and immobility can predispose to constipation so drink plenty and eat lots of fruit and veg to counter this from the outset!

CirreltheSquirrel · 29/09/2023 14:25

I broke my ankle on holiday and my insurance company booked me three seats to fly back so I could have my leg up.

Shame the airline tried to allocate me seats on either side of the aisle though! (We did get it sorted thankfully)

Verite1 · 29/09/2023 14:29

Have you spoken to your insurance company? I was upgraded to business class to keep my foot elevated. That was long haul though.

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