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Driving Should Be Delayed After Right Foot or Ankle Surgery

By Dr. Jason Gold, DPM, FACFAS | Dr. Jodi Schoenhaus DPM, RPhs, FACFAS

When can I start driving again? This is one of the first things many foot surgery patients ask their doctors immediately following surgical procedures on their right foot or ankle. Unfortunately, the inability to drive often hampers an individual’s ability to work, socialize, and effectively attend to daily necessities that emerge. But should driving be delayed after foot or ankle surgery? Orthopedic surgeons agreed that delaying the return to driving until the right foot is completely healed is the only way to ensure the safety of the driver, and everyone else out on the road.

Studies have shown clearly that drivers who are impaired with their right foot in some sort of immobilization devices such as a short leg cast, air cast, or controlled ankle motion boot cannot brake effectively in an emergency. The tests that have been performed have examined data using every sort of immobilization device that is currently used following foot or ankle surgery. Every one of these tests determined that no device allows the foot to brake as quickly and safely as normal footwear. Right foot injuries or surgery mean the patient is sidelined from driving until completely healed when the normal range of motion returns and everyday footwear can be utilized.

Many drivers also may not realize that their insurance companies are not required to pay up when it comes to claims filed seeking coverage of an accident in which the driver was impaired with a prior existing right foot injury or recovering from surgery on the foot or ankle. The compromising of the patient’s safety and the safety of other people on the road is just not worth returning to driving before the right foot is completely healed. The results of the tests are clear; no immobilization device allows a driver to brake fast enough in the event of an emergency. As a result, patients should not return to driving until their foot or ankle is fully healed.

Dr. Jason Gold, DPM, FACFAS

Dr. Jason Gold, DPM, FACFAS, is a podiatrist at the Foot, Ankle & Leg Vein Center in Boca Raton, FL, and Boynton Beach, FL. He has over 20 years of experience and specializes in foot and ankle conditions like bunions, fat pad atrophy, and sports medicine. Dr. Jason holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Maryland, College Park, and he earned his Doctor of Podiatric Medicine from Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine in Philadelphia. He's one of only 10 board-certified Reconstructive Foot & Ankle Surgeons in Palm Beach County. Dr. Gold has been featured in highly authoritative publications like HuffPost, PureWow, and Yahoo!

Dr. Jodi Schoenhaus , DPM - Podiatrist in Boca Raton, FL

Dr. Jodi Schoenhaus DPM, RPhs, FACFAS

Dr. Jodi Schoenhaus, DPM, RPhs, FACFAS, is a podiatrist at the Foot, Ankle & Leg Vein Center in Boca Raton, FL, and Boynton Beach, FL. She has over 20 years of experience and specializes in foot, ankle, and leg vein conditions like spider and varicose veins and sclerotherapy. Dr. Jodi holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Michigan, and she earned his Doctor of Podiatric Medicine from Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine in Philadelphia. Dr. Schoenhaus has performed FDA-approved research and has been published in the National Library of Medicine and PubMed. Dr. Jodi has been featured in highly authoritative publications like Cosmopolitan, Lifehacker, Parade, New York Post, and Yahoo!, among others.