What is a foot fracture?
A fracture is a broken bone. Breaks in the feet and ankles can range from microscopic hairline fractures to having the foot bones crushed into fragments.
Foot fractures often occur as a result of trauma, for example, being in a car accident or sustaining an injury when playing sports. Other ways to get a foot fracture include:
- Repetitive strain
- Poor foot structure
- Having osteoporosis
- Wearing awkward shoes
Ankle fractures tend to happen as a result of bending the ankle joint too far one way, which is the same kind of injury that causes sprained ankle ligaments. You might even assume your ankle pain is due to a sprain, when in fact, you’ve broken a bone. You can also sprain and fracture your ankle at the same time.
It’s important to get expert diagnosis and treatment for foot and ankle injuries, or you could end up having a permanent weakness.
What are the symptoms of foot fractures?
Acute foot and ankle fractures can cause severe pain, but small bones may break without causing as much pain as you might imagine. Your foot and ankle are likely to swell, and the swelling might spread up your leg. The affected foot will look noticeably different if you compare it to your other foot.
It’s not unusual to have bruising or even blisters at the site of the fracture. You probably struggle to walk or even bear weight on the affected foot, but again, if it’s a smaller bone, this might not be such an issue.
Stress fractures cause different symptoms to an acute foot fracture. You won’t get the instant, severe pain you’d get with an acute fracture because the microfractures in the bone are so small it takes time for them to develop into a painful problem.
What you will get is pain when you do your normal activities. The pain is likely to ease if you’re resting but worsen if you try and walk. The affected foot might be painful to touch, and there might be some swelling. You won’t have bruising as with an acute foot fracture, though.
How are foot fractures treated?
You should see Dr. Battula at Bay Area Foot and Ankle Center as soon as possible, whether you think you have a foot fracture or a sprain. She can take X-rays to see what’s going on inside your foot and design a treatment plan for your injury.
You might need to wear a cast or splint for a few weeks to take the pressure off your foot while it heals. If your broken bones need realigning, it might be possible to manipulate them back into place. However, in some cases, foot fractures require surgery to repair them properly.
If you have a foot or ankle injury and suspect a fracture, call Bay Area Foot and Ankle Center today or book an appointment online.
