Hi,
You have had surgery for a compound
trimalleolar fracture of the ankle and fixation with metal plate and screws including a
syndesmosis screw. I assume the metals are stainless steel. As you are still in the post surgical recovery phase you need to wait for
wound healing. now you have mentioned a list of medical problems,from
lupus,
diabetes,
stroke and so on. Regardless of all that all these medical issues need to be well controlled especially diabetes. The surgical wound need to be healed well.
Swelling around the lower part of the limb should be controlled by elevation, compressive bandages and regular exercises of the foot and ankle. icing the part should be done carefully if you have
cyanosis as the blood flow can decrease with it. Generally, if the wound is OK and there's no sign of inflammation or infection at that area its unlikely that you will get a metal reaction. You will not be able to weight bear on the affected limb so need to use a walker to move around. Keep active mentally and physically and be in good spirits with a positive outlook.
Take care. Hope I have answered your question. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. George Verghese, Orthopedic Surgeon