Foot & Ankle Fractures Keeping Your Feet Happy & Healthy

Foot & Ankle Fractures

Foot and ankle fractures are common injuries that can happen to anyone, whether from a sports-related incident, a simple misstep, or an accident. These fractures can range from minor cracks to severe breaks, often requiring immediate medical attention and specialized care.

What is a Foot and Ankle Fracture?

A fracture is a medical term for a broken bone. Fractures can occur in any of the 28 bones in the foot and ankle. These fractures vary widely in severity and can impact how you walk, balance, and perform daily activities.

Types of Fractures

Different types of fractures may require different treatment approaches. Here are some of the most common types of foot and ankle fractures:

Toe Fractures: Small but often painful, fractures in the toes can happen from stubbing, dropping something heavy on the foot, or from repetitive stress
Metatarsal Fractures: These fractures involve the long bones in the midfoot and are often seen in athletes (ie, runners, hikers, military)
Calcaneus (Heel) Fractures: Heel fractures typically result from a high-impact injury, such as falling from a height
Ankle Fractures: The ankle is made up of three main bones—tibia, fibula, and talus—and fractures can occur in one or more of these bones. These fractures are often caused by twists, falls, or sports injuries

Causes and Risk Factors

Foot and ankle fractures can be caused by a variety of factors, including:

Trauma or Injury
Sports Activities
Osteoporosis
Overuse

Recognizing the Symptoms

Knowing the signs of a fracture can help you decide when to seek medical attention. Common symptoms include:

Pain and Tenderness that is often severe and localized to the fracture site
Swelling and Bruising around the affected area
Difficulty Walking
Deformity of the foot/ankle

Diagnosis of Foot and Ankle Fracture

Physical Examination
Imaging:
- X-rays
- Ultrasound - sometimes can be used to identify stress fractures that are not obvious on X-rays!
- CT Scans or MRIs

Treatment Options

Treatment for foot and ankle fractures depends on the type and severity of the injury. Here are some common approaches:

Immobilization - cast, splint, or walking boot to keep the bone in place
Activity Modification - not all fractures require you to be non-weight bearing on crutches/knee scooter/wheelchair! This is determined based on physical exam and imaging findings
Reduction of Pain and Inflammation - here at Performance Foot & Ankle, we offer MLS laser therapy to facilitate bone healing and an overall speedier recovery!
Bone Stimulator - for those stubborn fractures that fail first-line therapies
Surgery - severe fractures, especially those where the bones are misaligned, may require surgery to realign and stabilize the bones. This often involves metal screws, plates, or pins

Foot and ankle fractures can be painful and disruptive, but with timely and appropriate treatment, most people make a full recovery. If you suspect a fracture, contact your Podiatrist promptly for evaluation, accurate diagnosis, and a treatment plan tailored to your injury and fracture pattern.

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"This is what medical care should be!"
Excellent customer service, and thorough care. Dr. Patel was down-to-earth, knowledgeable, and skilled (my kind of doc). The office was clean, and well-run. Billing was smooth as well without any of the hiccups you get at other offices. This is what medical care should be!

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Dr. Gifford was very knowledgeable with explaining the cause of my heel pain and gave me a painless injection. She was very friendly and took her time with answering all my questions. Can't thank her enough because I'm back to my normal workout routine without any pain!

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The process was smooth and efficient from the start. After filling out "contact us" form on their website, I received a call within 30 minutes to set up my appointment. The staff was incredibly helpful and welcoming. When I arrived, I handed them the printed form, and I was seen almost immediately. Dr. Patel was fantastic—he took the time to listen to all my concerns, identified the cause of my issue, and provided a clear solution. He even showed me at-home remedies and offered tips on how to prevent the problem in the future, without making me feel pressured to buy any treatment products. He went above and beyond in his care. Overall, a great experience!

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Dr. Patel and his staff were absolutely incredible! I was having issues with my foot for about 5 years and I had been to numerous doctors without success. Then I met Dr. Patel and I’m happy to report that my issue is now solved! So thankful and could not be happier. Everyone here is super nice, down to earth and they genuinely care about you, the patient, which was super important to me. I was very impressed with how they go about their business and I highly recommend!

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Dr. Gifford and her team are amazing and I recommend Dr. Gifford without hesitation. She provided me with multiple options to address Achilles issues. I ultimately needed surgery and the results have allowed me to walk without pain and return to activities I had been missing. My incision site is imperceptible. Dr Gifford and her team are communicative, caring and highly capable.

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Going to performance foot and ankle. It's like going to your salon or Barber. Once you find a good stylus, you won't leave them. Doctor Patel and his staff are like that. My dad has been going to them for years he's 102 years old. They do excellent work and care about their patients.

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