Bone fractures in the foot and ankle can happen to anyone, at any time. Seeking treatment for fractures is very important in order to ensure healing takes place as quickly as possible. A fracture refers to an injury or break to the bones. There are many types of fractures, ranging from small hairline fractures to traumatic bone breaks. Although minor fractures can heal on their own, more serious fractures will require surgery.

If you suspect or have sustained a fracture in your foot and/or ankle, you’ll need to be treated by an orthopaedic surgeon who has knowledge of the intricate workings of the bones, tendons, ligaments and muscles of the foot and ankle.

Foot and Ankle Fracture Causes

The structure of the foot and ankle contains many bones intricately working together, and if just one of these bones are fractured it can cause extreme pain and greatly impair mobility, or in a worse case scenario cause a permanent deformity. It’s important to immediately seek treatment if you have suffered a foot and/or ankle fracture to ensure a complete recovery and have function restored as quickly as possible and avoid long term complications.

You are more susceptible to fractures if the bones, ligaments and tendons in your foot and ankle are weak. Fractures can occur when there is trauma to the bone.

Trauma may include:

• Rolling the ankle either in or out, or twisting it from side to side
• Over-flexing or over-extending the joint
• Applying too much force to the ankle or foot
• Blunt force (a heavy object falling on the foot or ankle, or a hard fall)

Foot and Ankle Fracture Symptoms

If you’re experiencing any of the following symptoms, it is very important that you get checked by your doctor to determine if you have a fracture:

• Throbbing pain
• Severe swelling
• Increased pain during activity and decreased pain during rest
• Bruising
• Inflammation, redness and tenderness
• A deformity of the bone in the foot and/or ankle
• Difficulty walking
• Difficulty bearing weight

How to Diagnose Foot and Ankle Fractures

To diagnose a foot and ankle fracture, you should be seen by an orthopaedic specialist to assess the severity of the injury and determine a plan for treatment. Imaging tests will likely be ordered, which may include:

• Plain X-Ray
• CT scan
• Musculoskeletal ultrasound
• MRI

Foot and Ankle Fracture Treatment Options

In some cases, if the fracture is mild and non-displaced (meaning the bone hasn’t shifted out of place), non-surgical treatment may be able to heal it.

To treat mild foot fractures and ankle fractures without surgery, follow the RICE protocol:

• Rest: Rest is key. Staying off your injury will help you heal faster. You will likely wear a cast to help keep the foot and ankle immobilized.
• Ice: Ice the area for 20 minutes at a time to help with swelling and inflammation. Continue icing every 40 minutes.
• Compression: Wrapping the injury helps control swelling, immobilisation may be necessary with a moonboot or cast.
• Elevation: Keep your foot and ankle raised slightly above the level of your hip to help reduce inflammation.

If you have a more serious fracture, surgery is usually necessary to repair the fracture as well as any ligaments, tendons and muscles that have been damaged.

Contact Dr. Nunes for more information on foot fractures as well as treatments