If chronic pain or limited range of motion develops following this procedure, it is most often related to your type of fracture. Fractures that involve the joint and damage the cartilage are more likely to develop pain and cause lack of motion over time. This occurs because the fracture speeds up the wear and tear on the articular cartilage and leads to arthritis. Arthritis can cause pain and loss of motion.

If this occurs, your doctor will recommend treatment options. Very rarely, a repeat surgery with fusion of the bones is necessary to control the pain. Fusion involves placing hardware into your ankle joint to permanently eliminate movement of the ankle while still allowing for walking.