Thank you for your opinion on Jenny's condition. Based on your input, Dr. Shah and I feel that Jenny has an unstable ankle--a Grade 3 sprain. Given her condition, we would recommend that she consult with an orthopaedic surgeon to discuss her options. This does not mean that she necessarily will require surgery to repair the damage, but because of the possibility, we would be more comfortable if a surgeon offered a more informed opinion. Dr. Shah made just a note or two on our treatment plan form, which I have attached. She was not explicit about all of her reasoning, though; she merely indicated her preference for a surgical consult.
Dr. Shah and I would like you to plan out what we should say to Jenny about her condition and about her treatment. We already know that she is eager to return to her activities. In what you say, you should anticipate this and plan for likely questions about whether there is any way that Jenny can get back to her activities more quickly. You can use Dr. Shah's form to weigh the pros and cons of other options . It is our job to provide objective information to the patient and lay out potential risks of all possible courses of treatment.
