Foot and Ankle Fracture Q&A
What are foot and ankle fractures?
Fractures are partial to full breaks, ranging from a minute tear or crack in one small bone to a major break in which your bone protrudes through your skin.
When left untreated, even small stress fractures in the foot and ankle can impact your ability to walk. Over time, an injury that fails to heal properly may even cause problems with your gait.
What causes foot and ankle fractures?
A fracture in the foot or ankle occurs when too much stress and pressure is placed on your foot, ankle joint, or bones that make up that joint (tibia, fibula, and talus).
Some common foot and ankle injury causes include:
- Twisting the ankle after tripping
- Rolling the ankle during a fall
- Adding too much force during a jump or fall
- Overextending the ankle joint
- Sheer impact during an accident
Patients who exercise regularly and play sports are at a higher risk of developing a foot and ankle injury than those who don’t.
Do I have treatment options?
The treatment plan Dr. Charles recommends depends entirely on the severity of your foot or ankle injury.
Nonsurgical options
First, Dr. Charles will take an X-ray to make sure that your fracture is stable enough to avoid surgery. If the bone(s) are fractured, but have not moved out of place, he may be able to protect you while it heals with help from brace, CAM boot or short leg cast. This may be done for a period of 4-6 weeks, which is the typical time frame for bones to heal.
Surgical options
Surgery is typically recommended if your ankle is unstable, or if Dr. Charles determines that your injury will not heal properly on its own. The type of surgery you get depends on your injury location and the intensity of your fracture.
If Dr. Charles suggests foot or ankle surgery to treat your injury, he will likely use plates and screws to remedy the problem and reduce pain. If the fracture is serious enough, he may even have to do a bone graft.
Learn More
When it comes to foot and ankle injuries, it’s easy to push yourself too hard and make the problem worse. At American Health Network, Optum Orthopedics, Dr. Charles Sisovsky, DPM, AACFAS, offers patients both nonsurgical and surgical treatment options to help heal foot and ankles fractures before they become debilitating. Call or book an appointment online today to learn more about the treatments that Dr. Charles provides.