A variety of factors can influence how long a patient remains in the hospital after surgery. The type of surgery performed, the patient's health and the surgery goals are all important factors. The more severe your foot or ankle injury is, the longer you might need to stay in the hospital after ankle surgery. If you're having an operation on your ankle to repair a torn ligament, for example, you'll need to remain in the hospital for several days as doctors monitor your progress and make sure there are no complications during recovery. If you're having ankle surgery for a different reason, such as to correct a deformity acquired during childhood, you might be able to go home on a postoperative day one.