30-40
Years

According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), doctors have noted an increase in the number—and severity—of ankle fractures in the last 30 to 40 years.

Could an ankle injury be the end of her show jumping career?

My world changed when I had a pretty bad accident at a national show jumping competition. I experienced a really severe ankle injury. I realized I really needed help—obviously—because my ankle was in terrible shape. I figured I needed to see the best in the area. And, that was Dr. Viens from EmergeOrtho—Triangle Region.

3M
ER visits

Traumatic foot and ankle injuries account for upwards of three million emergency department visits every year.

Dr. Nicholas Viens develops the perfect treatment plan for Chapel’s ankle injury.

Board-certified, fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Nicholas Viens has subspecialty training in foot and ankle surgery. Upon his visit with Chapel, Dr. Viens discovered that she had a potentially devastating ankle injury with a dislocation and significant injury to all of the ligaments in her ankle. Chapel immediately knew she made the right decision in choosing EmergeOrtho—Triangle Region, and that Dr. Viens had the necessary skills to help return her to riding and competition.

1
External fixation device

An external fixation device helps to hold together fragments of a fractured bone, align the bone during surgery, restore the length of the limb, and can protect soft tissue after an injury has occurred.

Innovative surgical approaches restore Chapel’s ankle and competitive journey.

“It was my first time having surgery and [the foot and ankle team] were so accommodating and really made sure I knew exactly what was going on. And they really made me feel safe, relaxed, and at home. And I was very comfortable falling asleep under their care.”

Dr. Viens utilized arthroscopy to clean the joint, while also stabilizing Chapel’s ankle. He also used what is called an “external fixation device” to help her feel more comfortable. Once the device was removed, Dr. Viens cleaned the joint again, adding a graft to the joint surface with cartilage. He then fixed her ankle fractures with plates and screws.

4WKS-4MOS
The average time range of recovery

The typical recovery time following ankle surgery can take several months before it is safe to return to competitive-level sports.

Healing continues with expert physical therapy, enabling a full return to competition.

EmergeOrtho—Triangle Region served as a perfect solution for Chapel, providing her comprehensive and all-inclusive orthopedic care options. From walk-in urgent care and precision diagnosis to surgery and post-surgical physical therapy, all the services she needed were in one location. Through her treatments, hard work, and positive attitude, Chapel has been able to successfully resume her passion for horseback riding and competition.

“I have a really good physical therapist; his name is Jody, and he has been the best. He is very motivational and really has talked me through each step as well. Like, ‘You got this, you can do this.’ To continue showing and doing what I love.”

Dr. Nicholas Viens
Dr. Nicholas Viens

Meet Dr. Nicholas Viens, Foot & Ankle Specialist

Dr. Nicholas Viens is a fellowship-trained and board-certified orthopedic surgeon at EmergeOrtho—Triangle. He is part of the foot and ankle team and offers a variety of procedures to meet each patient’s needs, from minimally-invasive surgery to complete ankle replacement.

Dr. Viens always uses a patient-first approach and develops individualized treatment plans. He utilizes conservative, non-surgical treatments when possible, resorting to surgery when necessary. Find out more about how Dr. Viens can help you with ankle and foot injuries, bunions, chronic pain, and more.