Ankle Arthroscopy

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

• Ankle arthroscopy (ahr-THROS-ko-pe) is a procedure to check or repair a damaged or diseased ankle joint. The ankle joint is where your lower leg bones and the bone on the top of your foot meet. Ankle arthroscopy may be done to check an injured, unstable, stiff, or painful ankle. If you have these problems after treatment with exercises, special shoes, a splint or other measures, you may need an ankle arthroscopy. This procedure shows the condition of your bones, cartilage, tendons, ligaments, and other tissues. Tendons are strong elastic tissues that connect muscles to bones. Ligaments connect one bone to another.
  
  
• Ankle arthroscopy may be used to remove, repair, or rebuild part of the ankle. It may be done to fix broken bones, ligament tears, loose tissue, or other problems. During the procedure, an arthroscope is used to see inside the joint. An arthroscope is a long metal tube with a light, camera, and magnifying glass on the end. Small tools will be used to fix your ankle problem. With ankle arthroscopy, your ankle problem may be found and treated, and you may be able to do your usual activities.

CARE AGREEMENT:

You have the right to help plan your care. Learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. Discuss treatment options with your caregivers to decide what care you want to receive. You always have the right to refuse treatment.

RISKS:

Risks of having an ankle arthroscopy include getting an infection or bleeding during or after your procedure. Nerves, blood vessels, or ligaments in your ankle may be damaged during your procedure. Your ankle may become more stiff, numb, or painful after the arthroscopy. You may not be able to move your ankle as well as you could before your procedure. You may be allergic to medicines, including anesthesia, used during the procedure. You may have the same or other problems with your ankle after this procedure. You may still need to have open surgery on your ankle. If your ankle is not treated, your ankle pain and problems may get worse. You may have trouble going back to your usual activities, including sports. Call your caregiver if you are worried or have questions about your procedure, medicine, or care.

WHILE YOU ARE HERE:

Before your procedure:

• Informed consent: A consent form is a legal document that explains the tests, treatments, or procedures that you may need. Informed consent means you understand what will be done and can make decisions about what you want. You give your permission when you sign the consent form. You can have someone sign this form for you if you are not able to sign it. You have the right to understand your medical care in words you know. Before you sign the consent form, understand the risks and benefits of what will be done. Make sure all your questions are answered.
  
  
• IV: An IV (intravenous) is a small tube placed in your vein that is used to give you medicine or liquids.
  
  
• Pre-op care: You may be given medicine right before your procedure or surgery. This medicine may make you feel relaxed and sleepy. You are taken on a stretcher to the room where your procedure or surgery will be done, and then you are moved to a table or bed.
  
  
• Vital signs: Caregivers will check your blood pressure, heart rate, breathing rate, and temperature. They will also ask about your pain. These vital signs give caregivers information about your current health.
  
  
• Antibiotics: Your caregiver may give you antibiotic (germ-killing) medicine to help prevent an infection after your procedure.
  
  
• Anesthesia: This is medicine to make you comfortable during the procedure. Your caregivers will decide which type of anesthesia medicine is best for you.
  
  
  • General anesthesia: Caregivers use this medicine to keep you asleep and free from pain during surgery. They give you anesthesia through your IV or as a gas. You may breathe in the gas through a mask or through a breathing tube placed down your throat. The tube may cause you to have a sore throat when you wake up.
    
    
  • Intravenous (IV) regional anesthesia: This is medicine put into an IV in the injured arm or leg. A pressure cuff is first put on your arm or leg. After the cuff is tightened, the medicine is put into the IV. The cuff keeps the medicine in the arm or leg so you will not have pain.

During your procedure:

• Your ankle, foot, and leg area are cleaned and covered with sheets. A rubber cuff may be put around your thigh to slow down blood flow to the ankle. Your leg is placed on a leg holder to keep it bent. Caregivers will mark the areas on your skin where the scope and other tools will be inserted. Caregivers insert a needle and put liquid inside the joint. Fluoroscopy (a type of x-ray) may be used to see inside the joint. A small incision (cut) is made where the arthroscope is inserted. More incisions are made into your ankle.
  
  
• The ankle joint and areas around it are checked. Your leg and foot may be moved in certain positions to show caregivers how your ankle works. Tools are used to remove loose and extra pieces of tissue, or repair damaged tissue. Screws, stitches, or anchors may be placed in the joint. Heat energy may be used to stop bleeding, destroy unwanted tissue and shorten ligaments. The incisions are closed using stitches, and wrapped tightly with a large bandage. Your foot and leg will be put in a cast or splint.

After your procedure:

You are taken to a room where you can rest. Caregivers watch you closely for any problems. When caregivers see that you are OK, you may be allowed to go home. If you are staying in the hospital, you will be taken to your hospital room.

Diet:

If you were completely asleep during surgery, after surgery you may first be given ice chips, and then liquids such as water, broth, juice, or soda pop. If you do not feel sick after drinking liquids, and caregivers hear your bowel sounds with a stethoscope, you may get soft foods. Some examples of soft foods are ice cream, applesauce, or custard. When you can eat soft food easily, you may have your usual diet.

Pain medicine:

Caregivers may give you medicine to take away or decrease your pain.

• Do not wait until the pain is severe to ask for your medicine. Tell caregivers if your pain does not decrease. The medicine may not work as well at controlling your pain if you wait too long to take it.
  
  
• Pain medicine can make you dizzy or sleepy. Prevent falls by calling a caregiver when you want to get out of bed or if you need help.

Activity:

Your activity guidelines after surgery depend on what was done during surgery, and many other factors. Ask your caregiver what activity you can and cannot do after surgery. The following are general guidelines after ankle arthroscopy:

• Keep your leg elevated for three days after surgery. Prop your leg up on pillows when you sit or lie down. Keep your ankle propped up higher than the level of your heart. Doing this will help decrease swelling in your ankle and foot.
  
  
• Right after surgery, you may have a cast or splint on your lower leg, ankle and foot. You may be asked not to weight-bear (put your foot down on the floor) for days or even weeks after surgery. You will need to use crutches to walk. A caregiver called a physical therapist may teach you how to walk using crutches.

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The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.