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Question

I have had a 4 compartment faciotomy recently and would like to know what type of recovery rate I will have. Also there is some nerve damage to my leg along with loss of motion.

Submitted: 320 days and 14 hours ago.
Category: Health
Value: $9
Status: CLOSED
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Optional Information

Age: 50; Male, North Carolina

Already Tried:
physical theorpy 3 times a week.

Posted by Dr. Mark 320 days and 14 hours ago.

Info Request

Was this fasciotomy the front part of your lower leg (the shin)?

And do you now have trouble with lifting your foot at the ankle (dragging your foot when you walk)?

320 days and 14 hours ago.

Reply

Yes, it was broken on the top and bottom near the ankle and fractured at the top near the knee. They went in on both sides of my left calf. I haven't started to walk again because he wanted to keep it non-weight bearing but my foot does angle down and drag.

Posted by Dr. Mark 320 days and 14 hours ago.

Answer

OK.

Without knowing your case, it's difficult to say if the nerve was actually injured from the broken bone itself, or the pressure that developed in the compartments afterwards, but what you are describing is injury to the deep peroneal nerve, which allows the muscle to pick up the foot.

Of course, part of the injury could also be to the muscle itself, the anterior tibialis, which is the muscle that lifts the foot.

It may take time to see if your muscle and/or nerve have a chance to recover, though if you can move it at all, that is a good sign that the connections are still there and there is a chance for recovery. Occasionally, there has been permanent injury, and a foot/ankle brace is needed while walking to prevent this "foot drop".

If you are making progress in physical therapy - keep doing it...you are on the road to a slow, but sure recovery.

320 days and 14 hours ago.

Reply

Approximately how long should I wait or is ample time to know that it is as good as it will get?

Accepted Answer

This could be weeks to months before you get to 90% of what you will eventually be. With some cases of nerve damage, occasionally we can see improvement up to a year later.

Of course, it really depends on the degree of injury, and if either the muscle or nerve or both were injured that will determine how quickly you will heal.

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Expert: Dr. Mark
Pos. Feedback: 99.8 %
Accepts: 
Answered: 1/6/2009

Doctor (MD)

U.S. Physician/Surgeon in Neurosurgery

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