If you’ve stumbled down some stairs, been in a motor vehicle accident or even overtrained for a marathon, you could have sustained a foot fracture. Foot fractures vary in type, severity, and recovery time. Here’s more on this common podiatric problem and how long it takes for a foot fracture to fully heal.
Types of Foot Fractures
Fracturing or breaking, one or more bones in your foot can vary in severity. Stubbing and breaking a little toe, while painful, may require nothing more than bandaging to the adjoining toe.
However, more serious fractures can happen if you drop something heavy on your foot if you’re in a car accident (particularly a front-end crash), or if you train too strenuously for a sporting event. Osteoporosis and other degenerative bone conditions can also lead to fractures.
In general, the most common foot fractures that podiatrists see are:
- Tarsal fractures, involving the seven bones at the posterior end of the foot and make up the ankle
- Metatarsal fractures, located on the long bones in the midfoot
- Lisfranc fractures, involving the juncture between the metatarsal bones and the tarsals
- Calcanealfractures, involving the heel bone (calcaneus)
Symptoms of Foot Fractures
Get medical attention immediately if you suspect you have a foot fracture. Concerning symptoms include:
- Throbbing pain
- Continuous, intense pain
- Tenderness when touching the injured area
- Pain that eases at rest and worsens with activity
- Inability to bear weight on the foot
- Swelling and bruising
- Noticeable foot deformity
If you do not have most of these symptoms and your pain is not as intense as described above, you may only have a sprain rather than a fracture. Sprains can often be healed with at-home remedies, such as the RICE method, a tried and true first aid protocol:
Rest the foot (get off of it)
Ice the Injured area
Compress with an ACE bandage
Elevate the foot above the level of your heart
However, it is always best to see a foot and ankle surgeon when you have a foot or ankle injury. Often, the only way to distinguish a sprain from a fracture is to get an X-ray and an evaluation from a foot and ankle surgeon. Foot fractures that heal without medical intervention can produce a deformity and you can lose mobility in your foot.
Treatment Options for Foot Fractures
Your foot and ankle doctor will evaluate your foot and recommend treatment options if it is indeed fractured. Your plan will be customized according to your injury, age, mobility, and overall health.
In general, most foot fractures require immobilizing and keeping your body weight off the broken foot using a walking boot, cast, crutches, or a combination of these. Physical therapy is an important part of the healing process because it helps regain muscular strength and balance. Plus, if your bones are brittle due to osteoporosis or other bone density problem, your podiatric team may advise taking calcium and vitamin D supplements to improve bone health.
For more problematic fractures, your foot doctor may use local anesthesia to numb your foot and manually realign displaced bone ends. Many breaks need surgical fixation with pins, wires, screws, or plates which may or may not remain in place permanently.
Healing Time for Foot Fractures
Foot fractures do take time and patience to heal completely. In general, you may expect full healing within three to six months. Your podiatrist will X-ray your foot to confirm this.
However, healing times do vary with age and overall health. For instance, a child’s bone will heal far more rapidly than his grandmother’s.
Additionally, there are several health and lifestyle factors that can slow down healing. These include:
- Smoking
- Poor nutritional status
- Advanced age
- Use of medications, such as immunosuppressants or corticosteroids
- Vascular health problems or diabetes
- Walking on the fracture before it is fully healed
Your podiatrist can give you an approximate timeline for treatment and complete healing.
Foot & Ankle Institute of New England
Our board-certified foot and ankle surgeons are Dr. Candace Criscione, Dr. Robert Gallucci, and Dr. Stephen Rogers. All three of them have extensive skill and experience in treating lower extremity injuries, including foot fractures.
If you think you’ve broken your foot, please contact one of our three locations for an accurate assessment and care plan. We have offices in Fall River, MA, as well as Warwick and Middletown, RI, for your convenience. Call the location nearest you or request your visit here. We look forward to caring for your foot and ankle needs!
