50% weight bearing.?

Question

I'm 19 years old and I broke my ankle (fibula) roughly 6 weeks ago playing soccer. I had a few screws inserted and a plate. I thought I was getting the fixator screw taken out today, but they didn't. My wound where the cut me open is infected so I'm on anti-biotics to treat that. Should I be worried? My leg is also really swollen so they've told me to keep it elevated for a week to reduce the swelling. Are there any suggestions that people can offer to help me with this? Also, the doctor told me I could 50% weight bear, but never actually explained what that is. So that's what I really want to know.

Any help would really be appreciated.


Hope you can answer my questions.

So is half weight bearing using crutches?

Answer 1

Hi with this sort off fracture and operation you have had you will get swelling and when the fixator is removed to,swelling takes along time to go completly,once the fixator is removed you may be put into a plaster cast for a few wks for extra support and to make sure the cast gives you extra time for the fracture to heal.Make sure you keep your leg higher then your heart when you can .Having a infection in the pin site is normal too,ive seen many patient with this sort off infection and i will clear up on ant-biotics so dont worry about this,the nurses should be also cleaning the wounds too.50% weight bearing means you can put half your normal weight using crutches on to your ankle,but still using your crutches as you can do damage to your fracture and the fixator,once all the fixator is off you will be allowed to put more weight on your leg but probably still using crutches.If you want any more advice email me.

Answer 2

You definitely need to get the infection treated before they take the screws out as, if the infection gets into the bone it is VERY serious and VERY difficult to treat. If they took the screws out now, because the screws go into the bone, it would give an opening into the bone for the infection. This is why they aren't operating yet. However, don't get in a panic, you should be OK with the antibiotics.

Finish your course of antibiotics, even if everything starts to look and feel OK as there may be some lingering infection that you can't see/feel and you want to get rid of it as quickly as possible intead of going on another course of antibiotics.

Elevating your leg whenever possible will keep the swelling down as it's gravity that allows all the fluid to collect around the wound site. It'll still be swollen but not so much will collect. Cooling it will also help - get a bag of ordinary frozen peas, wrap it in a tea towel and put it on your ankle. Only keep it on for 10 mins at a time and then have a 5 min break - you don't want to freeze your flesh! If you mark the bag of peas as "non-edible" you can just put them back in the freezer to re-freeze and use them again and again.

50% weight bearing is when you're still walking with crutches, but you're actually putting your foot down to walk on it - you support your weight with the crutches as you step on your bad leg, so you're not full weight-bearing and there's support if it suddenly feels weak, but it's getting exercise.

Answer 3

If your doctor isn't worried about the infection at the wound sight, then I wouldn't be either. Take all of the antibiotics he gave you and keep the leg elevated and cleaned like he suggested.
50% weight bearing is the easy part to figure out. If you weigh 200 pounds, you can only put 100 pounds on the injured ankle/foot. I'd do less than that and do about fifty which should allow you to limp your way through life at the moment. Crutches would help control how much poundage you put on the ankle/foot and allow you to walk a little better and a little farther. But you won't be up the marathon for awhile.
They won't do any more surgery as long as it's infected, there's too much of a risk of it spreading more if they do that, so they'll want to wait on it until it clears up.
Good luck!! Happy healing!!

Answer 4

50% Weight bearing means not putting all your weight on it.
Probably walking slowly with crutches would be easiest for you but if your wounds are infected take your antibiotics and elevate your leg to reduce swelling. Dont get to worried about the wound the antibiotics should take care of that. I broke my leg a few months back Fib/Tib and had to have a nail inserted to stabilise it.
I got a slight infection in the wound but nothing to serious I was prescribed antibiotics and it cleared really quick.
By the way dont rush back into playing soccer give your leg time to rest and heal to good strength.

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Answer 5

You should have been issued a pair of crutches. For the time you have left before you see your doctor again, "walk" as little as possible and, when you do, don't bear weight on your injured ankle. Follow your doctor's orders strictly - take the antibiotics religiously, and don't stop taking them until they are gone. Also, keep the injured leg elevated and apply ice (surrounded by a towel so you don't harm the tissue of your leg) for 15 minutes at a time only, unless your physician has advised otherwise. This will help with the swelling. I can't emhasize how important it is to follow all of your doctor's instructions to the letter. Doing so can make the difference between possibly being able to play soccer again or having a "gimpy" leg the rest of your life. Take care, and please keep me updated!

Answer 6

so long as u take the anti biotics I wouldnt worry about the infection, just keep going and make sure you finish the course. also keep an eye on it, make sure the infection doesnt spread up your leg and if it does, tell a dr. I would think that the weight bare thing meant was how much weight you could put on the leg at the moment? but thats just a educated guess.
hope this helps, feel free to email me with questions about this answer, lou

Answer 7

50% weight bearing would involve using crutches.
The infection needs to be cleared up before any surgical procedure can take place ie fixator removed. Antibiotics should sort out the infection as long as you take them exaclty as prescribed and finish the course. The leg will probably be swollen because of the infection and possibly over weight bearing ie not using cruitches.
I hope this helps

Answer 8

50% just means don't put ALL of ur weight on it. U should worry if the wound doesn't heal, or if the antibiotics don't take care of the infection. U need to keep it elevated above the heart to help the swelling go down. It's easiest to do if ur laying down. Just prop it up on pillows. If u can't lay down or u have to sit 4 long periods, just don't let it hang down. Elevste it on a trash can or a chair or a stool.

Answer 9

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RE:
50% weight bearing.?
I'm 19 years old and I broke my ankle (fibula) roughly 6 weeks ago playing soccer. I had a few screws inserted and a plate. I thought I was getting the fixator screw taken out today, but they didn't. My wound where the cut me open is infected so I'm on anti-biotics to treat that. Should...

Answer 10

Hi, It means you can only put 50% of your weight on that extremity. If you weigh 150 lbs you can only put 1/2 that weight on the extremity. I work in a rehab facility as a nurse, so actually try to only put limited weight on that extremity. It sounds hard to do, and believe me all my patients ask the same question. It would be easier if you just put minimal weight on that foot until it is fully healed. Hope that helped.