Foot Fracture Treatment
Foot Fracture Treatment in Eastern Tennessee
Our Specialty
What is a Foot Fracture?
When there is a fractured foot, it is a direct injury to the bones. You could break your foot in a car accident or if you just trip and fall.
The damage caused by a foot fracture can vary. Fractures can be anything from small cracks in the bone to breaks that go through the skin.
Subspecialties
FOOT FRACTURE SYMPTOMS
If you have a broken foot, you may notice some or all of the following:
- Pain right away that throbs
- Pain that gets worse when you move and better when you rest
- Swelling
- Bruising
- Tenderness
- Deformity
- Having trouble walking or carrying weight
COMMON CAUSES OF A BROKEN FOOT
The most common reasons why someone breaks their foot include:
- Car crashes – Crushing injuries, which are common in car crashes, can sometimes cause breaks that need surgery to fix
- Falls – The bones in the feet can be broken if you trip and fall, or if you land on your feet after jumping down to ground level
- The impact from something heavy – Fractures often happen when someone drops something heavy on their foot
- Missteps – When you put your foot down wrong, you can sometimes break a bone. You can break a toe if you run into furniture with your toes as well
- Overuse – Stress fractures happen often in the bones of your feet that support your weight. Most of the time, these tiny cracks occur over time because of repeated force or overuse, like running long distances. But they can also happen when a bone that has been weakened by something like osteoporosis is used often
FOOT FRACTURE TREATMENT
The best way to treat a broken foot will depend on which bone is broken and how bad the injury is.
Nonsurgical treatments may include:
- Medications – Your doctor may suggest a pain reliever like Tylenol or ibuprofen over the counter
- Physical therapy – After your bone has healed, you’ll probably need to stretch the tight muscles and ligaments in your foot. A physical therapist can show you routines to help you get stronger and more flexible
- Immobilization – A broken bone needs to be kept from moving so that the ends can heal back together. Most of the time, this needs a cast. For minor foot fractures, a removable brace, boot, or shoe with a stiff bottom may be all that’s needed
- Reduction – If you have a displaced fracture, which means that the two sides of the break are not in the same place, your doctor may need to move the pieces back into place. This is called “reduction”
If your injury is too severe or nonsurgical treatment does not help, foot surgery is the next option. An orthopedic surgeon may need to use pins, plates, or screws to keep your bones in the right place while they heal.
Our Fracture Care team is who you should see if you have a broken bone. No matter what kind of injury you have, you can get expert care at Tennessee Orthopaedic Alliance. Schedule your appointment at one of our many convenient locations.
Our Fracture Care Surgeons
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