Foot and Ankle Fractures

Fractures are common with feet and unfortunate traumas such as falling down from heights, impacts, and road accidents are often the cause of foot fractures. Foot fractures may take place without any notable trauma history but a simple straining move in older patients as bones wear away and lose their quality over time. Foot and ankle fractures are evaluated according to location and severity of fracture.

Causes of Foot and Ankle Fractures

Road accidents: Traffic collusion is a common cause of foot fractures. These fractures are often critical and require surgical intervention.

Falls: Falling from heights may cause fractures. Besides, trips and falls or even stumbling over can give way to fractures.

Impacts: Severe impacts such as a heavy object falling on the foot may cause fractures. These fractures are also common in people who do sports such as football.

Sprains: Straining moves can give unexpected results. Sometimes, even stubbing to furniture while walking around at home can cause foot fractures.

Overstraining: Extreme straining can result in small deformations in the foot such as cracks. Fractures can also follow repetitive physical activities. In elderly patients with arthritis and osteoporosis fractures happen much more easily.

Risk Factors

There are some factors that increase the risk of foot and ankle fractures. Some sports are susceptible to causing fractures. Since the risk of impacts and spraining is higher in sporting activities such as football, hockey, gymnastics, tennis, and ballet, the risk of foot fractures is also higher in these activities. Unsuitable sports equipment also pose a threat as dysfunctional equipment can cause stress fractures and sprains. Starting exercise without warming up elevates the risk. People with certain occupations such as construction workers and builders have the risks of falling from heights or heavy objects falling on their feet.  Such accidents usually cause fractures in the feet or ankles. Older adults with arthritis or osteoporosis have the tendency to have similar fractures as well.

Symptoms of Foot and Ankle Fractures

• Sudden onset of pain (Increased pain if patients attempt to move)
• Throbbing with pain
• Swelling
• Bruising
• Sensitivity
• Deformation
• Difficulty in stepping or inability to walk
• Fracturing sound (though the sound may be caused by factors other than fracturing in some cases)

Treatment of Foot and Ankle Fracture

Treatment method of foot and ankle fractures is determined according to the location and severity of fracture. Non-surgical treatment may be adequate particularly when there is no distortion or dislocation at the tips of fracture and plaster casts or splints can be used in these cases. If there is distortion or dislocation on the edges of fracture, surgical intervention may be needed.