Patient Testimonial: “I Need to See the Ankle Wizard”
Rachael Stroker’s ankle issues began at the age of 24 after a bad rock climbing fall. The accident tore the ligaments in her left ankle and required medical treatment. Flash forward 23 years later, and the ankle ligaments had laxity due to years of outdoor activity.
“The joint had quite a bit of arthritis in it,” Rachael said. “In August 2019, I rolled my ankle and sprained it fairly badly jumping down from my kitchen counter. This injury was the latest result of my chronic ankle instability, which finally led me to seek out a foot and ankle specialist.”
Finding the Best Orthopaedic Physician for Ankle Instability
Rachael and her husband had been patients of Vail-Summit Orthopaedics & Neurosurgery (VSON) for years. They had seen VSON doctors for knee injuries, rotator cuff surgery, and finger dislocations. Their relationship with VSON started after noticing how involved the organization was in the local Eagle and Summit County communities.
“We really liked the doctors at VSON. We started going there initially after I noticed how the organization sponsors young athletes in the Vail Valley community. All the children’s sports t-shirts uniforms for Mountain Rec sports have VSON listed as a sponsor on the back.”
Rachael’s son is a member of the Team Summit snowboard team, which is sponsored by the doctors at VSON.
“VSON is one of the major sponsors of his program and we are so grateful for the financial contributions the doctors give to Team Summit in addition to the medical support (dryland training, injury prevention, and recovery) they provide for the young athletes.”
After her 2019 injury, Rachael reached out to VSON again.
“I told the scheduler that I needed to see the ankle wizard who can work orthopaedic magic. The scheduler laughed and said ‘oh, that will be Dr. Elton.’”
Ankle Instability Treatment and Surgery
From her initial visit to her post-operative care, Rachael was impressed with Dr. Elton’s skill, empathy, and rapport with patients.
“Dr. Elton took the time to connect with me. He also had a very strong team who obviously enjoyed working with patients and each other. Kelli (his physician's assistant) and Amanda (his athletic trainer) were always responsive to my calls and answering my questions.”
Rachael’s ankle instability was complex enough to require two surgeries. During the first surgery, Dr. Elton tightened the loosened ligaments and realigned the calcaneus bone. This procedure is known as a lateral ankle ligament reconstruction and a calcaneus osteotomy, which involves cutting the heel bone, sliding it, and placing screws in the joint to correct the ankle alignment.
“After the first surgery, my instability was much more manageable. I only feel ankle stiffness in the morning or after a long day on my feet. The second surgery removed the screws and scar tissue. I’m looking forward to climbing some 14ers this summer with my family!”
A Foot and Ankle Specialist With the Healing Touch
Rachael is just one of the many weekend warriors in our mountain community that Dr. Elton has helped return to the activities they love. Thanks to his training in traumatic ankle injuries, Dr. Elton's expertise allowed him to understand how the symptoms were impacting Rachael’s life, so he could treat her ankle condition and help Rachael return to her outdoor lifestyle.
If you are looking for a foot and ankle physician who can get you back on your feet, look no further than Dr. Elton. Schedule your consultation today with our online platform or by calling (970) 426-7220.