Did you know that almost 25% of the body’s bones are found in the foot? It’s no wonder then that fractures are among the more common injuries that we treat at Lansdowne Podiatry. Fractures fall into a few different categories:
Stress: these are small fissures or cracks in the bones surface that are usually caused by excessive, repetitive stress being put on a bone in the foot; stress fractures are frequently seen in athletes
General: going deeper into the bone, general fractures can be broken down even further into the following subcategories:
Displaced: in this type of fracture, the bone ends no longer stay in alignment the way they were originally designed to do
Open: a fracture is called “open” when the bone pierces through the skin
How to Recognize a Fracture
Fractures can occur in a number of different ways. Some are rather obvious, as in the case of an accident that cause a blow or hard impact to the foot, a fall or a heavy object landing on the foot. In other instances, the cause is more subtle: a sudden increase in exercise, overuse or a twisting injury that is severe enough to snap a bone.
Signs of fractures include pain, swelling, bruising, tenderness to the touch and difficulty bearing weight on the foot.
Treatment
Fortunately, most fractures, especially if they happen to a toe or one of the bones in the forefoot, are not usually very disabling and can be easily treated. In order to make a proper diagnosis, our board qualified foot and ankle surgeon, Dr. Monique Renee Rolle will need to properly evaluate your foot with an examination that will almost certainly include x-rays or other imaging studies to accurately diagnose the type and severity of the fracture. Once this has been done, the foot doctor will decide on the correct treatment for your individual injury. Most often this includes rest and elevation to relieve swelling and allow the bone to heal, along with immobilization in the form of a compression wrap, walking boot or specially chosen orthopedic shoe. In cases of severe fractures or where the bone has been dislocated, surgery may be required to repair the bone.
Remember that it’s a myth to think that if you can walk on it, it’s not broken. If you are experiencing pain or discomfort or other symptoms that could indicate a fracture in your foot, contact our Leesburg office as soon as possible to get an accurate diagnosis and the necessary treatment.