Foot and Ankle Fracture Treatment

What You Need To Know

Understanding foot and ankle fractures, symptoms, and how we treat them.

Foot and Ankle Fracture Treatment

A break in one or more of the bones of the foot is called a fracture. It could happen due to a trauma, like a fall, accident or an injury. There are 26 bones in each foot and ankle, all of which undergo a significant amount of strain and pressure as you move throughout the day. When bones receive more force than they can endure, they can break, or fracture.

There are two main kinds of fractures. In a compound or open fracture, the bone may break through the skin, it could break in more than one place, or more than one bone may be broken. In a simple or closed fracture, the bone does not come through the skin and it is a single break. Stress fractures also occur when pressure is placed on the weak points of the feet, and are common in people with osteoporosis, the elderly, and athletes who train intensively.

Symptoms vary depending on the location and severity of the break, but common signs include pain and tenderness, pain while walking or bearing weight, redness and bruising, inflammation, stiffness, and in severe cases a visible deformity or bone sticking out. Foot and ankle fractures and sprains share similar symptoms, so it is important not to self-diagnose.

At Artisan Foot and Ankle Specialists, our providers evaluate your overall condition, ask how the injury occurred, and use on-site digital X-rays to confirm or rule out a fracture. Because some fractures do not appear on initial X-rays, additional imaging studies may be needed. If you suspect a broken bone, please contact us right away for proper diagnosis and care.

Treatment, First Aid, and Recovery

Until you are able to see a foot and ankle surgeon, the RICE method should be performed. Rest by staying off the injured foot, since walking may cause further injury. Ice the area for 20 minutes at a time, placing a thin towel between the ice and the skin, and wait at least 40 minutes before icing again. Use an elastic wrap for compression to control swelling, and elevate the foot slightly above the level of your heart.

In case of a fracture, do stop any bleeding, control swelling with ice packs, elevate the feet, and get medical help immediately. Do not touch a bone that is pushing through the skin, do not put a bandage or footwear on the injured area, and try not to put weight on the foot. If your fracture involves an open wound or bone poking through the skin, go to an emergency room right away, as open fractures have a high risk of infection.

Depending on the severity of the injury, treatment may involve immobilization with a cast, cast boot, or stiff-soled shoe, and crutches may be needed. Bone stimulation, a pain-free external device, may be used to speed healing of some fractures. More complex or unstable fractures may require surgery, where our foot and ankle surgeons reposition the bones and may use screws or rods to hold them in place.

Less severe fractures typically require immobilization for about 6 to 8 weeks, followed by a physical therapy program to restore strength and mobility so you can return to your normal activities.