Foot fracture – 3 weeks in a boot · Virtual Fracture Clinic

This information will guide you through the next 6 weeks of your rehabilitation. Use the video or information below to gain a better understanding of your injury and what can be done to maximise your recovery.

Picture of bones in the foot

If you are worried that you are unable to follow this rehabilitation plan, or have any questions, then please phone the Fracture Care Team for advice.

Or, if you are experiencing pain or symptoms, other than at the site of the original injury or surrounding area, please get in touch using the telephone or e-mail details at the top of this letter.

What to expect

Advice for a new injury

Cold packs: A cold pack (ice pack or frozen peas wrapped in a damp towel) can provide short term pain relief. Apply this to the sore area for up to 15 minutes, every few hours ensuring the ice is never in direct contact with the skin.                                                    

Rest and Elevation: Try to rest the foot for the first 24-72 hours to allow the early stage of healing to begin. Raise your ankle above the level of your hips to reduce swelling. You can use pillows or a stool to keep your foot up

Early movement and exercise: Early movement of the ankle and foot is important to promote circulation and reduce the risk of developing a DVT (blood clot). Follow the exercises below without causing too much pain. This will ensure your ankle and foot do not become too stiff.  These exercises will help the healing process.

Early weight bearing (putting weight through your injured foot) helps increase the speed of healing. Try to walk as normally as possible as this will help with your recovery.

Smoking advice

Medical evidence suggests that smoking prolongs fracture healing time. In extreme cases it can stop healing altogether. It is important that you consider this information with relation to your recent injury. Stopping smoking during the healing phase of your fracture will help ensure optimal recovery from this injury.

For advice on smoking cessation and local support available, please refer to the following website: http://smokefree. nhs.uk or discuss this with your GP.

Boot advice

Diabetic patients: If you are diabetic please contact us to discuss your boot. This is particularly important if you have problems with your skin. We can provide you with a specialist diabetic boot if required.

Footwear for your uninjured foot: We would recommend choosing a supportive shoe or trainer with a firm sole for your uninjured foot. You will notice that the boot you have been given has a thicker sole, by matching this height on the uninjured side you will reduce any stress on your other joints.

Exercises

Initial exercises to do 3-4 times a day

Ankle and foot range of movement exercises. Repeat these 10 times each.

1. Point your foot up and down within a comfortable range of movement.
2. With your heels together, move your toes apart, as shown in the picture.
3. Make circles with your foot in one direction and then change direction.

How Long Does It Take For a Foot Fracture to Heal

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!

treatment and recovery from injury

A calcaneus fracture is not as common as a fracture of the tibia or radius in a typical location. Medical statistics state that this type of bone damage accounts for 3% of all fractures.
Our ancestors moved mainly on four limbs. However, in the process of evolution, a person began to walk on two legs, which led to a shift in the center of gravity. As a result, the feet began to experience a greater load, because now they have to bear the weight of the whole body. If a person is obese, this pressure becomes even greater. With a load during simple walking or running in a healthy person, they can easily cope. However, problems can arise in the event of sudden jumps or falls from a height. One of the bones that may not be able to withstand such loads is the calcaneus.

Recovery in this case will play a significant role, because a relapse can greatly complicate life and it will take a very long time to return to normal life. Here, physiotherapeutic procedures and special orthopedic shoes will play a great role.

Causes of bone fracture
1. A fracture of the limb bone most often occurs as a result of a fall on the legs from a great height. Moreover, the severity of damage will not always depend only on the height of the fall. For example, the position of the foot upon landing will determine in which direction the fragments will move.
2. The cause of injury, in addition to falling from a height, can be a very powerful blow or strong squeezing.

How to determine a fracture?
Calcaneal fractures are characterized by pain in the area of ​​damage and the inability to load the foot. Attention is drawn to the valgus and varus deformity of the heel, the expansion of the heel region, swelling of the foot, the presence of characteristic bruising in the heel region and on the plantar surface of the foot. The arches of the foot are flattened. Active movements in the ankle joint due to soft tissue edema and tension of the calcaneal tendon are sharply limited, and in the subtalar joint are impossible.
In the case of a fall from a height with a landing on the heel tubercles, combined injuries of the heel bones and spine are possible. Therefore, it is recommended to conduct an X-ray examination even in the absence of complaints in the first days after the injury. Associated fractures account for 9.9 to 12% of all calcaneus fractures.

Most common injuries:
1. no offset;
2. with offset;
3. multifragmented fractures;
4. fracture of the medial or lateral process.

Treatment
Calcaneal fractures without displacement are treated conservatively by a traumatologist. Immobilization is carried out with a plaster splint from the knee to the toes for a period of 3-8 weeks. Regardless of the absence or presence of displacement of the fragments, the patient is strictly forbidden to step on the leg on admission, since early loading can cause secondary displacement of the fragments. Subsequently prescribed exercise therapy, physiotherapy, massage. The patient is advised to wear orthopedic shoes with arch supports for at least 6 months.

In case of a displaced calcaneus fracture, reduction is performed under local anesthesia. Of particular difficulty is the treatment of multicomminuted compression fractures of the body of the calcaneus, accompanied by a large displacement of bone fragments, damage to the articular surfaces of the talus and calcaneus. If closed reposition is ineffective, osteosynthesis is performed using the Ilizarov apparatus. Extraosseous and intraosseous metal structures should be used with caution due to the high risk of complications.
In the late period after calcaneal fractures, post-traumatic flat feet, foot deformities, arthrosis of the Chopard joint and subtalar joint often develop. Perhaps the formation of bone protrusions that violate the supporting function of the limb.

Depending on the type of calcaneus fracture, rehabilitation can take from three months to two years. The beginning of the rehabilitation period can also begin at different times. Usually, the first foot movements are resolved from the moment when they do not cause severe pain.

The problem of treating fractures has always been significant, both for the individual and for society. In all human civilizations, there is an analogue of the profession of “chiropractor” – a person who is professionally engaged in the restoration of broken limbs of people and animals. Thus, in the analysis of 36 Neanderthal skeletons with fractures, only 11 fracture treatment results were found to be unsatisfactory. This shows that even at this level of development, the effectiveness of medical care for fractures exceeded 70%, primitive people knew about fractures and knew how to treat them.

1. Massage. It can be done even before the doctor removes the plaster cast: the masseur develops places near the plaster. The main task of the method is to increase blood circulation. At first, the patient may experience discomfort. This is a normal reaction, but it is better to report it to a specialist.
2. Therapeutic exercise. Particular attention is paid to the method if the fracture was displaced. The first simple exercises can be performed after the bone heals: the patient flexes and unbends the fingers, rotates, flexes and unbends the foot, pulls the toe in and out, walks on toes and heels, rolls the ball with the foot, etc. Severe pain after a heel fracture should not be: if the patient feels discomfort, then the training should be interrupted and the doctor should be informed about his condition.
3. Physiotherapy. They improve blood circulation, lymph circulation, relieve pain, inflammation, normalize metabolism, start regeneration processes and contribute to faster bone and soft tissue recovery. The doctor may prescribe electro- and phonophoresis, laser treatment, UHF, etc.
4. Hydrotherapy. Usually, the doctor prescribes warming baths that restore muscle tone and normalize blood circulation.
5. Proper nutrition. The diet should contain foods high in calcium, silicon and magnesium.
6. Wearing orthoses and orthopedic shoes. Soft, rigid and semi-rigid orthoses reduce swelling and avoid muscle atrophy. And special insoles allow you to properly distribute the load on the foot, so that it gets less tired. They wear orthopedic shoes for at least six months, the exact recommendations are given by the doctor.
The patient is considered healthy if he can stand on the injured leg, walk and move without pain and any restrictions.
Special products for recovery
Modern orthoses, bandages and other orthopedic products for the foot and ankle can make life much easier during the recovery period. Rehabilitation will be more efficient, and complications will be minimized.
In addition, modern special products are characterized by modern design, high functionality, as well as provide maximum comfort and a high recovery effect when using them. We must not forget about the use of high-quality orthopedic shoes during the recovery period.
A person has only one life, so you should take care of your health and do not neglect the recommendations of specialists.

WARNING! All information posted on this site is advisory in nature. In each individual case, consultation with a specialist is necessary.
January 9, 2019

How long does an ankle fracture take to heal

Injuries to the lower limb primarily limit a person’s mobility. Most often, damage affects the ankle, since it is this place that is most vulnerable. People of working age and parents of children after injury are interested in the question of how long an ankle fracture heals, how recovery occurs and whether it can be accelerated.

Terms of fusion of a broken ankle

In medicine, the ankle is called the bone processes of the tibia and fibula. They form the ankle joint or otherwise the ankle. Visually, the ankle area looks like a dense tubercle located on the outside of the joint.

The ankle acts as a shock absorber, during movement, jumping, running, the main load falls on this place, so fractures can occur after a minor injury.

After an injury, victims worry about how long the ankle will heal and grow together, how long they will have to wear a cast, and when the doctor will allow it to be removed.

The terms of bone tissue fusion and complete recovery primarily depend on the nature of the injury and its severity:

• a fracture without displacement heals within 6-8 weeks;
• after a trauma with displacement requiring manual reduction of bone fragments, the cast cannot be removed for up to 2.5 months;
• after ankle surgery, rehabilitation takes as long as possible – up to 3 or more months.

How long the recovery will last depends on the individual characteristics of the organism. The doctor can allow the patient to remove the cast only after a control image, which clearly shows that the bone has begun to grow together and a callus is forming. However, the complete healing of the ankle can take a very long time, in some cases this process takes 6 months or more.

Factors affecting the speed of rehabilitation

After confirming the fracture of the ankle with x-ray or other diagnostic method, the doctor prescribes treatment. It can be conservative or operational. Choose one of the methods, taking into account the nature of the damage, the degree of its severity. If the injury is uncomplicated, then a plaster splint is applied, how long it will need to be worn depends on the accompanying factors.

Surgical operation is prescribed if bone fragments are displaced and there is serious damage to internal structures – ligaments, muscles, joints. After the operation, a cast is also applied to the limb.

How long a patient will wear a plaster splint depends not only on the severity of the fracture, but also on:

• the age of the patient – injuries heal faster in children;
• volume of intervention during the operation. After osteosynthesis, in most patients, the range of motion is normalized after about 3-4 months;
• the patient has comorbidities. Complete healing will have to wait a long time if there is arthrosis, osteoporosis.

Traumatologists won’t say for sure how long complete healing will take. Rehabilitation continues for a long time if the victim has anemia, cachexia, or is ill with tuberculosis or diabetes. You will have to wear a cast for a long time even with pronounced hormonal changes in the body.

The fracture will heal faster if the victim strictly follows all the doctor’s recommendations. During the recovery period, walking with support on the injured limb is prohibited. The use of axillary crutches, which are selected according to height, will help ensure peace. The use of multivitamin complexes containing mandatory vitamin D and calcium accelerates the fusion of ankle bone tissues.

The plaster splint must not be removed after it has been applied to the ankle without the doctor’s permission. Rigid fixation is necessary even for the period of sleep, otherwise the bones will grow together for a long time. Wearing a cast will have to be longer for those who have displacement of fragments. Of the drug therapy, mainly painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs are used. Physiotherapy is usually prescribed 2-5 days after the injury, that is, after the swelling has decreased.

Features of the treatment of ankle injuries in children

In children, the bones heal faster than in adults. However, small patients do not realize the need to strictly follow the doctor’s recommendations, so parents need to make sure that they do not put a load on the injured limb and do not step on the foot.

The rehabilitation period is no different from the characteristics of recovery in adult patients. After recovery, you need to limit jumping, running and physical education for 2-3 months.

Features of the recovery of elderly patients

The fusion of the bones of the ankle in persons over 60 years of age occurs much more slowly than in youth. This is due to the slowdown in metabolic processes, the fact that the elderly have many chronic diseases and have problems with the absorption of vitamins and trace elements. How long it will take to recover, the doctor can only say approximately. Massage, exercise therapy, physiotherapy courses, and fortified nutrition will help speed up healing. Rehabilitation should first of all be aimed at forming a gait without lameness.

Rehabilitation

Rehabilitation should begin almost immediately after the ankle cast has been applied. The bones will not grow together for a long time if the patient can undergo a course of physiotherapy and massage.

Physiotherapy improves blood circulation, speeds up metabolic processes, reduces pain and swelling. In most cases, UHF therapy, electrophoresis, and magnetotherapy are prescribed. When carrying out physiotherapy, it is usually not necessary to remove the plaster splint. Physiotherapy is equally useful for ankle fractures with and without displacement.

The massage course is carried out after the doctor removes the cast. Massaging the injured leg improves tissue trophism, normalizes blood circulation in the ankle area, improves joint movements. Massage should only be performed by an experienced specialist, as it is important not to worsen the condition of the damaged bone.

Exercise therapy can be started as early as 3-5 days after the injury. Regular exercise eliminates tissue atrophy, promotes a better supply of microelements and minerals to the ankle, which means it will grow faster. At home, exercises are done relying on a healthy leg, useful:

• swinging the injured limb back and forth;
• flexion of the leg at the ankle and its rise;
• foot flexion;
• toe walking with support.

The traumatologist must write down the rehabilitation program taking into account the characteristics of the ankle fracture. When fragments are displaced, exercise therapy usually begins to be done after the formation of a callus is noticeable in the picture. At home, special rehabilitation simulators designed to speed up the recovery of the body after injuries of the musculoskeletal system can come in handy.

An alternative to plaster

A plaster splint provides rigid immobilization, which is necessary for the bones to heal correctly and quickly. But gypsum, despite all its advantages, is already losing its relevance, since it is quite heavy and not breathable, that is, the limbs are uncomfortable in it. Now there are more modern means of rehabilitation, the use of which facilitates the course of the post-traumatic period and accelerates healing.

Surgeons are increasingly recommending that patients with ankle fractures wear an orthosis, an orthopedic product that simultaneously performs several functions:

• relieves pressure on the joint;
• provides total or partial immobilization of the ankle;
• reduces soreness and eases movement;
• reduces the chance of complications after the bone heals.