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Is Regaining Natural Gait Possible After Tibia ORIF Surgery?
Question: Have a radial fracture in tibia. It will be 4 weeks before surgery can be performed in a public hospital in South XXXXXXX Doctor says they will need to open the site and cut the bone. Worried this will leave my legs with different lengths, causing me to walk with a limp. Is this a possibility? And would this be grounds for litigation?
Brief Answer:
Depends on written consent
Detailed Answer:
Hi there.
Thanks for the query.
If the fracture is not fixed for many weeks, it can try to heal in an abnormal position and this makes it difficult to get the right alignment when the Surgeons are trying to fix it. Hence they could need to cut some bone to get the proper alignment.
Since you will be asked to sign a written consent about expecting shortening after the surgery it may not hold good as litigation material. If the Surgeon has not explained about this as a complication of the surgery, then you can definitely seek the law to help you.
I hope I have answered your query.
I will be available to answer your follow up queries.
Regards,
Dr. Aashish Raghu
Depends on written consent
Detailed Answer:
Hi there.
Thanks for the query.
If the fracture is not fixed for many weeks, it can try to heal in an abnormal position and this makes it difficult to get the right alignment when the Surgeons are trying to fix it. Hence they could need to cut some bone to get the proper alignment.
Since you will be asked to sign a written consent about expecting shortening after the surgery it may not hold good as litigation material. If the Surgeon has not explained about this as a complication of the surgery, then you can definitely seek the law to help you.
I hope I have answered your query.
I will be available to answer your follow up queries.
Regards,
Dr. Aashish Raghu
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
No, the surgeon did not mention a limp. That's my main concern. I enquired about it with the intern, and she refused to answer. She said she would raise it with the surgeon next week and he will then come and talk to me.
So I guess my question is, are there any stats on how many people have a limp after surgery that requires bone to be cut from the tibia?
So I guess my question is, are there any stats on how many people have a limp after surgery that requires bone to be cut from the tibia?
Brief Answer:
Must discuss with your surgeon
Detailed Answer:
It would be best that you ask your Surgeon regarding the chances if a limp and shortening of the limb after surgery because each surgeon has his/her own method.
There are plenty of cases listed in the literature about shortening after tibial fixation surgery but the degree of shortening can vary to bring negligible to noticeable.
Must discuss with your surgeon
Detailed Answer:
It would be best that you ask your Surgeon regarding the chances if a limp and shortening of the limb after surgery because each surgeon has his/her own method.
There are plenty of cases listed in the literature about shortening after tibial fixation surgery but the degree of shortening can vary to bring negligible to noticeable.
Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
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