After the plate is removed from the ankle, the wound usually has to be stitched up, so you have to wait until the wound is completely stabilized before you can walk on the ground, and you can walk slowly on the ground about a week after the surgery. When you first start walking, if the wound is still painful or if there is a lot of tension in the ankle joint when walking, it is best to walk only partially with weight or with crutches. If you wait for the wound to heal before walking, it usually takes about two weeks, and it is safest to walk after the stitches are removed, as the wound will rarely be painful and will not cause wound dehiscence and abnormal bleeding when walking.