Last December, star Redwings player Dan Cleary took a slapshot to the left ankle, effectively fracturing it.
In a previous post, we took a look at video of Cleary’s injury and his season up to that point. Now, we will delve into the effects of the ankle injury and the process of Cleary’s recover, with specific insights from Dr. Lance Silverman, skilled Orthopedic specialist.
This fracture appears to have been caused by a direct blow to the left fibula (the outside bone of the leg). In general, these fractures are intrinsically stable and do not need stabilization surgery, but they take a long time to heal. Not only is the bone injured but the tissue covering the bone (the periosteum), the fat on the side of the leg, and sometimes even the skin is crushed. The blood supply to the area is compromised and, as a result, healing progresses slowly.
Early protected weight bearing is good for fractures like these as it encourages bones growth. Casts are generally not necessary but can provide comfort.
From a hockey perspective, putting pressure from a skate on an injury like this would likely make it difficult to cut toward the left (the skate top digs in on that side). While not dangerous or likely to slow healing, no person can truly handle the pain of direct pressure on an ankle fracture and soft tissue injury without a solid healing time.
Even after proper healing time, the skate may fit differently as there will be callus that forms in response to such an injury. The tissues will also be less compliant. Getting used to this new area of different pressure is the greatest challenge with injuries like this.
Related Sources:
ESPN.com