What are the most common causes of ankle fractures?
Your ankle joint includes three bones: the ankle bone (talus) and the ends of your two leg bones (tibia and fibula) where they articulate with the talus. An ankle fracture can occur in any of these bones.
The most common cause of an ankle fracture is rolling your ankle inward or outward. You may also develop a fracture from injuries like falling or a car accident.
What are the most common foot fractures?
There are numerous types of foot fractures because the foot contains 26 bones. Examples of fractures often treated at Metropolitan Foot and Ankle Specialists include:
Toes and forefoot
Fractures of the toes and forefoot are the most common. A blow or injury to your foot usually causes them. These bones are also susceptible to stress fractures from overuse or high-impact sports.
Midfoot fracture (Lisfranc fracture)
A Lisfranc fracture typically occurs during contact sports or a car accident, or when a heavy object falls on the top of your foot.
Fifth metatarsal fracture
The fifth metatarsal — the long bone on the outside of your foot that connects to your little toe — can incur two types of fractures, an avulsion fracture, and a Jones fracture.
Heel fracture
Your heel bone, or calcaneus, is quite hard on the outside but consists of spongy bone on the inside. While it’s hard to fracture your heel, and it usually takes a high-velocity injury such as a fall from a high place, once the outside breaks, the damage becomes severe as the inner bone tends to collapse.
What are the symptoms of a fracture?
Your symptoms may range from mild to severe, but all fractures cause symptoms such as:
- Pain
- Swelling
- Inability to bear weight
- Bruising or discoloration
- Deformity when the bone is displaced
How are fractures treated?
The location, type, and severity of your fracture determine the best treatment.
Rest, ice, compression, and elevation help reduce pain and swelling. Fractures require immobilization to be sure the bone heals correctly, but that can range from taping a toe to wearing a walking boot or a cast.
When the bone is displaced, or you fracture multiple bones, you may need surgery to reposition the bone, repair tissues, and stabilize the bones with plates and screws, when necessary.
Don’t hesitate to call Metropolitan Foot and Ankle Specialists any time you suspect you have a foot or ankle fracture.
