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What is a foot fracture?
Fracture of the foot – this is a violation of the integrity of the bones that form it, due to a force greater than they could withstand. If we turn to statistics, then among the total mass of fractures this damage is common, it accounts for up to 10% of all cases of skeletal bone injuries.
Fractures in the foot are prone to: metatarsal bones, phalanges of the fingers, tarsal bones (these are the calcaneus, talus, cuboid, scaphoid, and three cuneiform). Injury can occur due to direct and indirect impact.
Among the most common causes are the following:
A sharp and strong bend of the foot to the side.
Dropping a heavy object on it.
The fall of the person himself from a height, with a landing on the feet.
If we consider the category of people most susceptible to such damage, then this is most often the adult population. Children with such injuries are rarely admitted to traumatology departments. Sometimes a fracture can be caused by existing diseases, such as arthrosis.
Closed foot fracture
A closed foot fracture can occur in the following areas:
Sometimes the talus is affectedwhich is a pretty serious injury. This is due to some of its features: through it passes the pressure of the body on the feet, it is responsible for the formation of their arches, and is also the only bone that does not have a ligament with any muscle. Recovery takes a long period of time, as the bone does not have a normal blood supply. Nutrients come to it only at the expense of small vessels surrounding tissues. It accounts for up to 3% of all foot injuries. But in isolation, it is rarely damaged, more often combined with ankle fractures, dislocations of the joints, etc. In order for the integrity of the talus to be broken, an indirect effect is necessary: a jump or fall from a height, eversion of the leg. The neck of the bone suffers more often, which is then complicated by a backward dislocation of the bone block.
Sometimes the calcaneus is damaged, she suffers somewhat more often than ram. The method of traumatizing her is monotonous – this is a landing from a height on the feet, when the main emphasis falls on the heel. In this case, the talus is wedged into it, which is why a split occurs. Most often, both legs are injured. The stronger the blow, the more difficult the fracture will be. It can be: simple, fragmented, multi-splintered, intra-articular and extra-articular, with and without displacement.
When the Metatarsal Bones Break, then more often this is due to an object falling on them from a height, squeezing it or moving along it, for example, a car wheel. Both one and several bones that make up its composition can be injured, with damage to the head, neck or body. It is the bones of the metatarsus that break most often.
When the phalanges of the fingers are injured, then this is due to a direct impact. Often, with such fractures, a person can continue to step on a limb and does not seek help from a doctor. Meanwhile, improper fusion often results in serious consequences, for example, post-traumatic arthrosis develops. If the fracture occurs inside the joint of the finger, then this leads to stiffness and walking becomes difficult for the victim, then people go to the trauma department faster.
Signs of a broken foot
The symptoms of a broken foot will vary depending on which part of the foot is affected:
With a fracture of the talus there is edema, painful sensations, which are aggravated by palpation. Possible hemorrhage in the joint cavity. It will become difficult to move the foot, the contours of the joint will be broken. Often, diagnosis only on these grounds is difficult, and a fracture of the talus remains undetected. It is differentiated as sprain. In order not to make an erroneous diagnosis, it is necessary to rely on two important symptoms: edema is localized from the inside of the lower leg, usually reaches almost to the middle of the ankle joint, and there is also increased hemorrhage. If the neck of the bone is broken, then a bump forms at this place, the pain will be localized in front, the skin becomes cyanotic and strongly stretched. When the posterior process is injured, the discomfort is localized mainly from the side of the heel.
If the heel bone is damaged, then the first symptom is the appearance of edema, and after a hematoma, which will be located below the ankle. The swelling will grow rapidly. The contour of the heel will become vague, if you touch it, the person will experience pain. It will be almost impossible to step on the foot. When there are fragments that have come into motion and have shifted, then the pain will radiate to the calf. With a compression fracture, the arch of the foot will swell, it will significantly increase in size compared to a healthy limb.
When the metatarsus suffers, then the main symptoms include swelling localized in the area of the sole, sometimes it goes to the back of the foot. She herself is deformed, when trying to step on the foot and palpation of the corresponding part, the patient experiences pain. As statistics show, bones 1 and 4 break most often.
If the phalanges of the fingers were damaged, then symptoms characteristic of small fractures appear. Movements are painful, you can step on your foot, but experiencing some discomfort, swelling is rarely observed. Often, a phalanx fracture is accompanied by a nail hematoma.
Edema after a broken foot, what to do
After a fracture of the foot, edema almost always occurs. This is normal for this type of injury. If the swelling lasts for a long time and does not subside, then this gives the person a certain discomfort.
In order to understand how to deal with edema, you should understand the reasons for its appearance:
If edema occurs immediately after injury, then this is due to the accumulation of fluid in the soft tissues surrounding the bone, due to their deformation. Normally, it should subside after a couple of days and completely disappear after removing the immobilizing bandage.
If the edema remains after the plaster is removed, then this may be the result of stagnation of the lymph. It is produced in large quantities, and its outflow is difficult. This can lead to a number of complications, for example, the formation of ulcers, cysts, fibrosis. Therefore, it is necessary to deal with edema in a timely manner.
In order to get rid of stagnation, it is worth making some efforts. In particular, they will help to cope with them:
Performing a foot massage. If it is not possible to visit a specialized office, then you need to do it at home. To do this, you should take fir oil, which will be an excellent assistant in the fight against edema. The movements should be gentle, you should start with kneading and stroking, then you can move on to patting and rubbing. It is important that the person does not experience discomfort.
You can not do without a course of exercise therapy, designed specifically to relieve swelling from the foot. It consists in increasing its mobility due to the work of the ankle and knee joints. Be sure to use your toes.
You can visit the physiotherapy room, where a number of procedures recommended by the doctor will be carried out.
Be sure to review the diet, remove excess salt from it. After all, it is she who contributes to the retention of fluid in the tissues.
Sometimes doctors advise using ointments that improve blood circulation in the foot.
In addition to the basic recommendations, you need to increase physical activity: walk long distances, visit the pool and gym. Not a single edema can withstand such an integrated approach and the swelling on the foot will disperse without leaving a trace.
Other types of foot fractures
In addition to the fractures of the foot bones described above, its cuboid, cuneiform and navicular bones can be injured, which deserve special attention.
Fracture of the cuboid bone of the foot
When the cuboid and sphenoid bones break, their very diagnosis is difficult. It is important to conduct an x-ray examination so as not to confuse a fracture with a sprain. The reason for which the injury is formed, most often lies in a direct blow. It can be broken as one or several bones at once.
Symptoms are as follows:
Pain that is localized at the site of the fracture, closer to the outer part of the foot.
Limitation of foot movement in a circle or sideways.
Edema formation.
A person is able to step on the foot, but the emphasis is on the heel.
Most often, no displacement is observed in case of injury to the cuboid bone, so you can limit yourself to applying a circular plaster cast. If a dislocation is formed, then it is necessary to reposition the bone and eliminate it. The operation is performed under local anesthesia. The most important condition for successful rehabilitation is wearing an arch support after an injury for a year.
There are several ways to get a fracture. The main one is an injury caused by an object that has fallen from a height, or by strong pinching. Often the navicular bone breaks together with the cuboid and sphenoid.
Symptoms are as follows:
Edema is observed, but it is not pronounced enough.
Painful sensations are also blurred. With such a fracture, a person experiences some discomfort, but he can walk. The emphasis is mainly on the heel.
A protrusion, which is a bone fragment, may form at the site of the injury.
To clarify the diagnosis, an X-ray examination is necessary.
How long does a broken foot take to heal?
The time it takes to repair injured foot bones varies widely.
It can increase or decrease depending on the nature of the injury and the area of damage:
An isolated fracture of the posterior process recovers in one month.
Fracture of the body and neck of the talus up to 3 months.
The bones of the metatarsus grow together in 1,5 months.
Finger phalanges can heal in 6 weeks or less.
The bones of the tarsus can recover both in a month and in six months, if a pronounced displacement was observed.
If qualified assistance was provided, and at the stage of recovery the patient complied with all the doctor’s instructions, then the fracture of the foot will heal faster. On average, this time is 2 – 3 months.
Foot fracture treatment
Treatment of a foot fracture depends entirely on the location, extent and nature of the damage:
In case of damage to the calcaneus without displacement, a plaster cast will be applied by the doctor. It starts from the fingers and ends at the knee. Particular attention should be paid to the longitudinal arch of the foot. On average, you will have to wear such a plaster for a couple of months. If there is a displacement, then a one-stage reposition is applied to begin with, after which a plaster will be applied. The method of osteosynthesis is often used, which is recommended 14 days after the injury. The Ilizarov apparatus is used if the fracture is comminuted.
When the bones of the tarsus are injured, both the reposition method and transosseous osteosynthesis are used, rarely, but the skeletal traction method is used. The plaster will be applied for an average of 3 months.
When the fracture affected the phalanges of the fingers or the bones of the metatarsus, then the imposition of a splint is required. Its length stretches to the knee joint.
With multiple fractures, treatment is complex, lengthy, and sometimes surgery may be required.
Rehabilitation after a broken foot
After the fixing bandage is removed, swelling and some pain may persist for a long time.
For a speedy recovery, the patient will need:
Kneading foot and leg massage.
Increasing motor activity with mandatory exercise therapy. You need to exercise daily, without missing classes.
Physiotherapy.
Wearing supinators. This condition is mandatory. If all of the above procedures end three months after they began, then the person will need to wear an arch support for at least 12 months, and sometimes longer.
Another common recommendation of traumatologists is the wearing of special orthopedic shoes. After the plaster is removed, it is advisable to do this for six months.