Dallas Orthopedic Surgeon Presents a Step-by-Step Guide for Ankle Care

DALLAS, TX--(Marketwired - May 15, 2013) - Dallas orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Brian E. Straus, specializes in the repair of joints that are affected by worn cartilage, trauma, or disease. Ankle injuries make up a large portion of Dr. Straus's patients at All-Star Orthopaedics, and these injuries are common in patients of all ages.

Many of Dr. Straus's patients who visit his office for ankle care initially seek medical attention due to a specific event in which they heard a "snap" in the ankle. Dr. Straus recommends that these patients begin R.I.C.E. treatment as soon as possible -- before they even visit his practice. The R.I.C.E. protocol requires:

• Rest: Avoid placing weight on the injured ankle
• Ice: Ice the ankle for 20-minute intervals to reduce swelling
• Compression: Wrap an ACE bandage around the foot, ankle, and bottom of the leg
• Elevation: Keep the injured ankle elevated with the toes above the heart

Dr. Straus highlights that he treats a fracture and a break with the same degree of severity. A fracture is still a type of break, with a ligament occasionally pulling away a small piece of bone.

There are two types of ankle fractures -- those where the ankle is fractured on one side, and those where the ankle is fractured on both sides. "I tell my patients to think of the ankle as a circle or intact ring," says Dr. Straus. "If broken only on one side, the ring is stable and joint alignment is maintained." In these cases, patients will usually heal with the use of an ankle brace or a fracture boot and should be able to place weight on the ankle as long as no pain results. Dr. Straus says physical therapy is often recommended to ensure a return to range of motion and improve overall strength of the ankle.

However, if fractured on both sides, ankle surgery is usually necessary. If the bones are not re-aligned properly, patients have a good chance of developing arthritis later on in life. Typically, patients need to keep weight off of the injured ankle 6-8 weeks after surgery before they begin work on regaining their range of motion.

For Dr. Straus's Dallas orthopedic surgery patients who are anxious about their athletic futures, he notes that most patients are eventually able to return to their normal physical activities. However, he also recommends that his ankle surgery patients at All-Star Orthopaedics allow themselves a full year of recovery time to ensure that the ankle is completely healed.

About Brian E. Straus, MD

Dr. Brian Straus completed his Foot & Ankle/Sports Fellowship at the Foundation for Orthopaedic, Athletic, and Reconstructive Research. He is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon and a member of the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society. Dr. Straus is available for interview upon request.

About All-Star Orthopaedics

All-Star Orthopaedics specializes in a range of orthopaedic treatments including spinal surgery, hand surgery, foot surgery, sports medicine, and joint replacement. The practice has been serving the Dallas-Fort Worth area since 1997 and has its own on-site physical rehabilitation center. The specialists at All-Star Orthopaedics are available for interview upon request.