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The response to the question below was authored by Marc Mitnick DPM

Skin discoloration

by Wendy
(Texas)

Six months after ankle surgery and there is skin discoloration

I was wondering if you could help me.. my husband has had four different ankle surgeries over the past 18 months on his right ankle after he broke it at work. It started out that they put a plate and pins in to correct the break, then took one pin out so he coule start PT, then in 10/07 he had a reaction to the remaining pins and plate so they removed those. He went back to work, but still had a lot of pain and swelling that he delt with along with some discoloration around the scar. Then in July 2008 a different doctor went in and removed part of the nerve saying that part of it was caught in the incision and was causing his pain. But since then he still has had a great deal of pain and swelling in his ankle, hardly able to work because he can not stand for long periods of time, and he is always getting cramps in the calf of that leg. Can you give me an idea of what is causing the brownish discoloration and the cramping? he also has had a lot of muscle loss in that leg.
He is 42yrs old, and his weight now thanks to this injury is 280 lbs and he is at 5'8 1/2". He tries to walk what he can using the ankle brace and cane, but it is not much due to the pain.
I am not sure if the picture will help much.
Thank you.

Hi Wendy,
The brownish discoloration is known as hemosiderin deposits which is nothing more than bleeding under the skin. It is pretty much permanent and it is harmless.
The bigger problem is your husbands ability to walk. In general the more surgery a person has in the same area, the greater the liklihood there is going to be problems later on. As far as your husband's ankle goes it sounds like the "Perfect Storm". He broke his ankle, had it repaired, had to have hardware removed, then had partial nerve resection, etc.
Since I do not have the luxury of examining him I cannot accurately predict the future for your husband.
Of all his doctors pick the one that you have the most trust in and have a very specific conversation on what can be done at this point to make your husband more functional.
Marc Mitnick DPM

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Jul 14, 2015
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Post surgery
by: Betty L.

I had foot surgery on March 5, 2015 on L ankle. Tendon was torn and after x-raying they found a bone had 'moved' and needed to be fused/pinned. Since then my foot will not heal and they have to 'go back in'. My question is, when I DO try to take a few steps on it, the pain is severe and my foot turns 'orange'. What is that? Anything to worry about? It just gets bright!

RESPONSE
A change in color generally means a problem with circulation; either the blood coming into the foot, or blood trying to leave the foot.

Not so sure about the color orange as I have never seen that, but this issue needs to be brought to the attention of your surgeon.

Marc Mitnick DPM

Dec 12, 2010
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skin discoloration on ankle after surgery
by: Anonymous

hello i am a 36 year old male from toronto I am worried about the skin discoloration around my scars as i broke my ankle a year ago and still fairly dark where the staples where on both sides of my ankle how do i know when there is a serious problem and should i worry thanks email me at [email protected] with any remark s comments advice etc. thank you

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Mayo Clinic

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American Academy of Pediatrics

Penn State Medical Center

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Columbia University Department of Rehabilitation

ScienceDirect

Stanford Health Care

Illinois Bone and Joint Institute

Mount Sinai Hospital

Institute for Chronic Pain

University of Florida Health

American Family Physician

Cedars-Sinai

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Unknown location

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Unknown location

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Poland

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South Carolina

Hello! I want to thank you for such an informative website! I found you based on my ankle pain search and am happy to realize that there may be a relatively simple cause and solution....

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location unknown

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Bre

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anonymous

Dr. Mitnick, Thank you, you were 100% correct. The pain finally brought me to the ER. I spent 8 days in the hospital. The Doppler you spoke of was able to show that there was no pulse in that foot. This was an arterial clot that split and traveled throughout my leg. My leg was almost amputated. I am in rough shape but have all my parts intact!! You certainly know what you are talking about. Thank you for taking the time to answer. Yours Truly!

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Poland

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Seattle, WA

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Bonnie

location unknown

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New Jersey

Thanks so much for answering my question. You've been more help to me than my own Dr. has been lately. Thanks again....I hope to be able to walk without pain someday.

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Thanks so much for this website Dr. Marc! It is so nice that you have this ask the doctor feature..I'm sure I'ts been helpful for alot of people. I will try what you suggested and see if it helps...thanks again!

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Evansville, IA

Dear Marc

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San Diego, CA

Dr. Mitnick, Just want to say thank you so very much for your quick response and very informative reply! After reading what you had to say, I called the doctor's office and was able to get in and see him the same day as my injury. Toe was x-rayed and luckily, it is not broken or fractured. Very badly bruised and will probably lose the toe nail. And although my toe and toe nail are still very black and blue and very sore, they ARE both starting to feel a little better. So again, thank you! I am so very happy that I came across your website. The service you provide is outstanding and immeasurable!

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Albany, NY

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location unknown

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Whichita, KS

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mark

Boston, MA

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....Keep up what your doing. Your a life saver.

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Colorado

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annielou

Colorado

Wonderful advice

by: Anonymous

This is the best site for foot problem info.

Thank you for this information. This description fits my pain and inflammation behind my 2nd toe perfectly.

by: Max

location unknown

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Canada

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Wisconsin

Thank you for your response. You have provided some great insight (to my question)....

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North Carolina

Many Thanks Dr Marc!
Thank you for your response. It sounds like a good plan to me. He did not cut the wart out first ...

KG

location unknown

Thanks again doc for having this website and we STILL need qualified Podiatrists in beautiful sunny Tampa Bay (Bradenton) Florida.

Bessie Mae

Florida

Dear Dr. Mitnick, Thank you so very much for taking your time to answer my question. You have greatly relieved my anxiety related to the continual tingly I feel in my feet. I will share your response with my podiatrist next week. God bless you for having this question and answer page on your website! Most gratefully,

Lynne T.

location unknown

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New Jersey

Thank you. you were more detailed than what others have told me they finally called from the last xrays and my son is now in a cast for 2 weeks he did have a fracture that was not noticeable.

a mom

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Lenoir, NC

Thank you so much Doc for a quick and thorough response!

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Bellevue, WA

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Jodi

location unknown

Skin discoloration

Six months after ankle surgery and there is skin discoloration

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