[1leahburke]

My son has had surgery on Saturday 7th June to put plates and screws into the Tibia and tightrope on the ankle and repair a ligament after an open fracture to the ankle. We are due to go to greece on 28th, would it be OK to fly?

[J_9]

Since this surgery would set him up for risk of a deep vein thrombosis, this is a question you would have to discuss with his medical providers, not strangers on the internet.

[smoothy]

I agree with J_9. Speaking as someone who had surgery on the ankle and lower leg before... without a bone injury, I spent three weeks having to keep my leg elevated frequently, and when not moving around, and I could not have dealt with the cramped conditions on an airplane for that long flight to greece where you can't move around much OR raise that leg at all.

But as was suggested , speak with his doctor... I would be very surprised if they allowed it based on my own experience. Which is really not a good indication of what he might be told.

[1leahburke]

He has to take a daily injection, could he not take this prior to flying? My fear is that he has been really good and realises that the next 2 weeks after surgery its really important to elevate the leg, which he has been duly doing, but he is counting down for this 2 weeks, at which point he wants to go out and about in his mates cars, they are all just 18, mothers nightmare!! If we were to continue with the holiday, it would be 3 weeks from the date of the operation, I also know he'll have no choice but to rest and elevate his leg whilst away, he would then be a further 2 weeks down the line of having his cast on, he would reach the 5 week point on our return. How do you pin down an 18 year old who feels like his whole summer has been ruined?

[smoothy]

Depending on where you are flying from (even if you was flying from the UK)... thats a very significant period of time. He won't have the chance to elevate his leg on the plane, there just isn't enough space... Trust me I've been back and forth to Europe from the United states over 25 times.

I know he might "WANT" to go... but as J_9 stated, a Deep Vein Thrombosis is nothing to take lightly... that is in laymans terms essentially a blood clot... one that could move and kill him. That would ruin his summer...

Even from the east coast we are talking roughly 8 hours cooped up, unable to move much, completely unable to elevate his leg at all. Most flights are fully booked these days as they have reduced the number of flights to push up the occupancy to actually being overbooked, and I've seen many late arrivers bumped because of it. I haven't seen an unoccupied seat in a few years on any flight I was on.

But as J_9 also stated....talk with his doctors....make sure they know exactly what the plans are and how long he will be boxed up unble to raise his leg. Not just going over....but coming back as well.

I'm betting they think its a bad idea as well.

[choosy101]

I don't think so! But better if you will ask your son's doctor just to make nothing will happen.