What is causing my leg not to heal?

Question

I had an open compound fracture of the tibia & fibula on 12/10/05. I had surgery to install plate/screws. On 06/15/06 I had the plate/screws removed because of infection. I'm on various antibiotics. I still can't walk without crutches. If I leave my leg down for even a short time it swells. I use ice packs for the swelling. I'm miserable, haven't worked since 12/10/05, going broke. Help! This injury is just above my left ankle, The cut is just up from my ankle bone on the big toe side of my leg and extends upward 7-8" up my leg kind of in an "S" shape. The wound itself is puckered around the old incision. When swelling does occur, the whole area looks like it's going to explode. The color is from natural skin color until you get to the injury itself, the it's darker, kind of purple looking. It looks terrible. Looks like knots could be on the inside. If there are any professionals out there that can help, please do. I need to go back to work. . . . Paul

Answer 1

Have you had fever? How long is that the wound is getting purple and your ankle gets swollen, it is warm the area, do you have some liquid draining from your wound?
For what you say, the first thing that comes to my thought is to look very careful the wound, and be sure that the infection you had is still not active. Bone infections are hard to cure, and if existing, then they tend to search an outlet to drain.
It is too soon as to be out there without having medical control, do you trust your physician? One month is not enough to solve completely what I supposed you have had, an stimulates that made your doctors remove the plate, etc as the good practice indicates.
Sure you should be feed up and scared, but in any case help yourself and go for a medical check up. If what you have is a consequence of bad circulation, depending if arterial of venous, has different alternatives of treatment.
If the infection - as I mentioned before, very difficult to eradicate - is still active, then you will need further tests and it might be a hospitalization. Ice will not help much unless all the complications that I mentioned were ruled out and now everything that you have to do is just to rest and let your body to recover.
Please, do not loose more time, pack the essentials and go to the emergency center right now.
I wish you the best,
Froggy

Answer 2

Sound like the same injury I had. I didn't walk for 6 months and when I finely did it was hard. You need to patient with yourself I know how it feels. I went thru a compound fracture as well. The discoloration is were the blood went under the skin it caused a permanent tattoo that's what my doctor told me as for the puckeredness around the incisions that from scare tissue. Elevate your lag and give it time to hill. Talk to you ortho doctor and see if he can get you into PT this will help. The swelling is caused from the broken and cut veins (circulation) it will take time be patient. If you have any more questions and if I can help you can contact me at teesaw1@yahoo. Hang in there I know its difficult...

Answer 3

1) I think you are having osteomyelitis.This is a complication of the compound fracture , and you might have developed during fracture or as a part of treatment .You must consult doctor and try to do a culture and sensitivity test done on it.Also rule out tuberculosis.

2) Added possibility is the site of fracture. As it's just above the ankle the fracture site is likely to be moving which delays healing.

3) Please rule out metabolic disorders like diabetes mellitus

4) If you are a smoker you should avoid it as it affects blood flow to the site and delays healing.

5)Alway's keep the wound clean

6) Anyway consult doctor once again and look take an x- ray and if needed go for surgical option.A biopsy from the site may give clue to the problem

7) Give as much rest to the site of fracture as possible

8)Take adequate nutrition especially rich in protein, iron and calcium as it's very much a factor in promoting healing

Answer 4

Paul, have they run tests for diabetes on you? That slow of healing is a real worry. You don't say how old you are but one would have thought you would have healed by now. You really do need someone to run a simple fasting glucose on you.

I am not a doctor but had a grandmother who had similar problems with adult onset diabetes. Just a check to eliminate. Best of luck.

Answer 5

Wounds not healing shows the sypmtons of Diabetes.Please get ur blood and urine test done and check ur level of sugar in it under the supervision of ur doctor.Usually when sugar is high in blood it blocks the wounds to heal.
There seems to be some kind of vein or nerve damage as well which is blocking ur blood circulation and giving ur more complications.
U need to get ur injury checkedup by a doctor as soon as possible.Please don't wait for us to refer & explain ur complications,we out here can't help u much.So Please donot wait for our suggestions and wasteur time," U NEED DOCTORS ATTENTION."

Answer 6

Bone infections are difficult to cure sometimes but never impossible.Antibiotics and rest to the part are needed. High protein diet wih calcium suplements is good.

Answer 7

Your leg is not getting a good circulation. Have you check your blood sugar lately?

Answer 8

You need to talk to your orthopedic surgeon to get answers for these questions. He has the answers and if he does not, seek a 2nd opinion.

Answer 9

Please check whether you have diabetes.