- Dr Greisberg has performed more than 1500 lower extremity fracture surgeries
Just like with ankle sprains, fractures have a huge range in severity. The smallest might be small chip, or avulsion, fractures, and most of these can be managed non-operatively, just as with a sprain. Many fractures of the leg, especially around the ankle and foot, are stable, meaning the bones are holding good alignment on their own. We treat most of these stable injuries with early mobilization and early weight-bearing. The days of solid casts for months at a time are mostly behind us!
When a fracture disrupts the stability of the ankle, knee, or foot, then surgery becomes important both to accelerate the recovery and to optimize the long term outcome. Although a non-operative plan should be the standard plan for many injuries, sometimes an early decision for surgery will maximize outcome and minimize downtime.
Dr. Greisberg has extensive experience in fracture surgery. He completed fellowship training in both trauma and foot & ankle orthopaedics at major trauma centers in Rhode Island and Seatlle, before returning to New York as the chief of orthopaedic trauma for our Westchester facilities.
Dr. Greisberg emphasizes a minimally invasive approach whenever possible. Minimally invasive is not just about the size of the scar. The key is to minimize damage to the surrounding tissues. Stiffness, swelling, and fracture healing problems are all related to the amount of damage sustained by the tissues.