After surgery with a plate and 8 screws i was put in a temporary cast for 2 weeks, then on to the hard cast for 4 weeks.(weber c w dislocate. I asked the doctor to put me in a removable cast so I could move my ankle. Well he was not open to the idea, at all. Said it needs to stay clean. I know how to care for surgical wounds. He said, you will pull the stitches. No doc, I have 1000 of stitches over my life, having never pulled one. No, it is a hard cast for you. Now I really feel cheated, my ankle would have never been this stiff if I was allowed to move it after surgery. I should have bought a temp cast of the internet and cut the hard cast off myself. Live and learn.