What Happens After a Cast Comes Off the Ankle?
Casts Heal Ankles Individuals who have plaster casts on the ankle most likely suffered from a broken or severely fractured foot or ankle. After the doctor set the ankle in place, he used a cast to secure the foot and ankle in a fixed position that allowed the damaged bone to heal in a fixed position close to its natural composition. After enough time for the bone to heal, the doctor removes the cast; this removal process involves cutting the cast into two pieces (or more, if need be) and pulling it away from the injured ankle. With the cast off, the patient may notice some unexpected differences in the ankle. The Skin Looks Different When a doctor applies a plaster cast to an ankle, he must enclose the entire ankle, the lower leg and part of the foot in the device. While this portion of the body remains inside the cast, it forgoes exposure to sunlight; this prolonged darkness may cause the skin to appear white or very pale when the doctor removes the cast. In addition, individuals who
