Fractures

What are fractures?

Fractures refer to bone breaks that occur anywhere in the body. In the feet, there are two kinds of fractures. 

Stress fractures

Stress fractures are cracks in a bone. Stress fractures frequently occur in the second and third metatarsals — two of the long bones in your midfoot because those bones sustain the most pressure when you're in motion. 

Other common areas for foot stress fractures are the heel bone and the navicular bone — the wedge of bone that joins your ankle and heel.

General bone fractures

General bone fractures include all breaks that aren't stress fractures. A general bone fracture can be stable, which means the bones still fit together properly, or displaced, which means the bone segments don't line up. 

General bone fractures are usually closed, which means they don't puncture the skin. But, a severe fracture may be open, in which a bone pokes through the skin at the site of the break.

Although stress fractures may sound minor compared to some other fractures, both can cause pain and even disability without treatment. 

What causes fractures?

Stress fractures generally happen because of overuse and wear-and-tear. Many athletes experience stress fractures when they increase their training intensity or start exercising for longer periods. 

General bone fractures usually happen because of trauma. Common examples include dropping a barbell on your foot, landing too hard after a jump, kicking a hard surface forcefully, or tripping over an object. 

What are the symptoms of foot fractures?

Foot fracture symptoms usually include:

• Pain
• Swelling
• Bruising
• Stiffness
• Reduced range of motion

With stress fractures, your symptoms usually worsen during physical activity and diminish with rest. 

Fractures are quite uncomfortable and disruptive overall. If you have these symptoms, it's important to book an evaluation at MetroWest Podiatry right away.

How are foot fractures treated?

Fracture care depends on the kind of fracture and the severity of your symptoms. You may need:

• Activity changes
• Anti-inflammatory medication
• Brace or cast
• Physical therapy

If you have a badly displaced fracture or if your bone doesn't heal after trying nonsurgical treatment, Dr. Wascavage can perform surgery. He's a highly skilled surgeon who can reposition bones, repair the support tissues around bones, and fix bones in place with internal stabilizing devices like pins and screws.

For fracture care from a premier podiatric care specialist, call MetroWest Podiatry or click the online booking link.