Ankle surgery experiences please

[Suddenlyfeelingold]

Having ankle surgery for fractures of the tibia and fibula tomorrow and don’t really know what to expect. GA or spinal anaesthesia? Pain level?

I had an internal fixation on my fibula 12 years ago so things might have changed! I had a GA, it went very well, I think it's fairly routine. Discharged the following day (I think? Maybe two nights) after seeing the physio. I will say that the physio afterwards is so important so don't neglect it and once you've healed focus on strength training the ankle as mine is weak and that's caused some issues.

I had an internal fixation of my fractured fibula 25 years ago! Since then I've walked over mountain ranges around the world so it's done pretty well! Fingers crossed yours will be as successful, OP.

Thank you both - very reassuring. I’m a bit scared of a GA as I have minor heart issues, so hoping they’ll offer a spinal. Anyone had that?

I had surgery in 2024. By GA.
Pain level is not pleasant but not much sorer than a broken ankle. I was so relived to finally have the surgery!
Has your surgeon not specified what he would be using?

It’s been very rushed - I went to the fracture clinic today, had 3 X rays and a CT scan and the registrar rang me tonight to say they’re going to try to fit me in for surgery tomorrow. So no time to discuss anything! I asked about GA vs spinal and he just said that the anaesthetist would talk to me about it.

The anaesthetist is definitely the person to discuss this with as the Dr's you have spoken to aren't in a position to advise you either way. A spinal is certainly possible for this operation but there are many factors that need to be considered which is why the anaesthetist needs to talk through it all with you knowing your exact medical history etc.

Orthopaedic surgery can be quite noisy which is sometimes off putting for somebody awake, you could always have a bit of sedation on top to make you sleepy but not unconscious.

Having said all that, GAs are largely very safe- you are never more closely monitored in hospital than by an anaesthetic team when under a GA. I have worked in theatre recovery for 10 years and complications happen but not commonly, and usually in patients requiring more extensive surgery and patients that are much more frail.

Hope all goes well, be open with the anaesthetist how you feel about spinal vs GA and they will talk you through everything.

Thank you so much @Nursemumma92- that is just what I needed to read before going to bed.

I had pins put in my ankle after fracturing my tibia and fibula as well as dislocating my ankle. I had spinal anaesthesia. It was strange hearing the theatre staff talking about what they were doing that night when they finished their shift (it took place on a Saturday afternoon)!
I needed a lot of pain relief. after the spinal block wore off and was in hospital until the Monday. I was in plaster up to my knee for about 5 weeks then transitioned to a boot.

Do all the physio they recommend.

Change of plan. One of the orthopaedic team rang this morning and said that after looking at my X rays and scan in their meeting this morning, they want me to see the surgeon tomorrow in a face to face meeting to discuss the options. A bit confused, as I don’t know if this means options as in surgery vs non surgery, or anaesthetic options, or something else.

It's unlikely that a surgeon will want to discuss anaesthesia with you - they're not qualified to do that, and to be honest they probably haven't even thought about it. (I'm an anaesthetist!)
I would think that they are probably either now considering an alternative treatment, such as a different operation to the one they have previously discussed with you or non operative management. Lots of orthopaedic departments will have a daily multi disciplinary trauma meeting where the whole department plus people like the radiologists and physios review cases together and it's not uncommon that their collective wisdom leads to a change of plan, so try not to worry too much. It's good that they are being thorough and discussing things properly with you in advance of any procedure.
If you do have surgery you will meet your anaesthetist in advance and have the opportunity to discuss and ask questions about your anaesthetic. A lot of lower limb surgery can indeed be done under spinal and there are plenty of advantages to that. But it's not always the best option and not the safest choice for every medical condition so your anaesthetist will consider all the pros and cons and tailor the anaesthetic to your specific needs. They'll consider things like your pre existing conditions, any medication you're taking, how long the procedure will take, what position you'll be in during surgery, and when possible, your personal preference. But they'll go through all this with you beforehand - if you don't understand anything don't be afraid to ask.
I hope everything goes well and you have a smooth recovery.

I had a plate and screws to repair mine 16 years ago. They did it with a spinal and no sedation because I was heavily pregnant.

I was listening to music to drown out the worst of the noise, especially the drilling, and I was aware of the amount of force they had to use at points.

The pain after surgery was horrendous but after about 4 days, it seemed to very quickly disappear. Take all the drugs!!

My ankle is fine now. I get the odd twinge when the weather changes but nothing else.

Good luck, I hope it goes well. Wishing you a speedy recovery.

Thank you both - I agree that it’s good to be able to speak to the surgeon and discuss all the options. So reassuring to have the benefit of knowledge and experience on this thread!

Well that’s a turn up for the books. Having reviewed my CT scan and doing a weight bearing x ray, the consultant told me that all the fractures are stable, no op needed and I can go home in a boot! So happy!

Great news! Hope you're not in too much pain and it heals well x