Once is enough: A guide to preventing future fractures.American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw Hill Companies 2016. In: Tintinalli's Emergency Medicine: A Comprehensive Study Guide.
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.
New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Education 2015. Lightly wrap the injury in a soft bandage that provides slight compression.Don't put any weight on your injured foot.Apply ice for 15 to 20 minutes at a time, every three to four hours to bring down the swelling.If your injury isn't severe enough to warrant a trip to the emergency room, here are some things you can do at home to care for your injury until you can see your doctor: Have you recently begun or intensified an exercise program?.Have you injured your feet in the past?.Was there a specific injury that triggered your symptoms?.Your doctor may ask some of the following questions: What pain medications do you recommend?ĭon't hesitate to ask any other questions you have.What activity restrictions will need to be followed?.If I need a cast, how long will I need to wear it?.What treatments are available, and which do you recommend?.All the medications and dietary supplements you takeįor a broken ankle or foot, basic questions to ask your doctor include:.Information about the medical problems of your parents or siblings.Information about medical problems you've had.You may want to write a list that includes: If the pieces of broken bone aren't lined up properly for healing, you may be referred to a doctor specializing in orthopedic surgery. You will likely initially seek treatment for a broken foot in an emergency room or urgent care clinic. These materials may be removed after the fracture has healed if they are prominent or painful. In some cases, an orthopedic surgeon may need to use pins, plates or screws to maintain proper position of your bones during healing. A fractured toe is usually taped to a neighboring toe, with a piece of gauze between them. Minor foot fractures may only need a removable brace, boot or shoe with a stiff sole. To heal, a broken bone must be immobilized so that its ends can knit back together. Depending on the amount of pain and swelling you have, you may need a muscle relaxant, a sedative or even a general anesthetic before this procedure. If you have a displaced fracture, meaning the two ends of the fracture are not aligned, your doctor may need to manipulate the pieces back into their proper positions - a process called reduction. A physical therapist can teach you exercises to improve your flexibility and strength. TherapyĪfter your bone has healed, you'll probably need to loosen up stiff muscles and ligaments in your feet. Your doctor may recommend an over-the-counter pain reliever, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others). Treatments for a broken foot will vary, depending on which bone has been broken and the severity of the injury. This imaging helps to show ligaments and bones and can identify fractures not seen on X-rays. MRI uses radio waves and a strong magnetic field to create very detailed images of the ligaments that help hold your foot and ankle together. CT scans can reveal more detail about the bone and the soft tissues that surround it, which may help your doctor determine the best treatment. CT scans take X-rays from many different angles and combine them to make cross-sectional images of internal structures of your body.
Damaged areas, including stress fractures, show up as bright spots on the resulting image. The radioactive material is attracted to your bones, especially the parts of your bones that have been damaged. For a bone scan, a technician will inject a small amount of radioactive material into a vein. Stress fractures often don't show up on X-rays until the break actually starts healing. The technician may need to take X-rays from several different angles so that the bone images won't overlap too much. Most foot fractures can be visualized on X-rays. If your signs and symptoms suggest a break or fracture, your doctor may suggest one or more of the following imaging tests.
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