The Truth About Foot Fractures
There are many ways to describe a broken bone. Any bone in your foot can break, crack, or fracture – these words all mean the same thing. But there are many different ways a bone can break. How and where it breaks determines how long your recovery will be.
- The least severe break is a hairline fracture.
Also called a stress fracture, a hairline fracture is a small crack that doesn’t go through the bone. Stress fractures are common in athletes and others who engage in repetitive jumping and running. Structural abnormalities or toe deformities may contribute to the development of a stress fracture, as can a lack of nutrients that keep bones strong. Symptoms of a hairline fracture include bruising, pain, and easing of the pain when you stop an activity. - A complete fracture takes much longer to heal.
A complete fracture means you’ve broken the bone all the way through. It may crack with the broken ends still lined up (non-displaced fracture). Or the broken ends may have been pushed out of alignment (displaced fracture). Additionally, it matters if the crack is horizontal, vertical, or diagonal. It also matters if the break results in the release of bone fragments. - The location of your fracture also plays a role.
A broken toe may heal without much pain when simply taped to its neighbor. In contrast, a break in your 5th metatarsal will take much longer to heal, since there’s reduced blood flow in that area of the foot. This is the Jones fracture injury that sidelined Dallas Cowboys wide receiver James Washington earlier this month.
The type of foot fracture you have will determine its treatment. You may only need to wear a boot or a cast, or you may require foot surgery with the insertion of metal plates.
Our experienced podiatric surgeons, Dr. Craig B. Frey, Dr. Megan L. Oltmann, and Dr. Jim Swienconek, have the tools, including in-house digital x-ray machines, and the skills to diagnose and treat all fractures of the feet and ankles. Call Foot & Ankle Associates of Cleveland in Solon, Ohio at (440) 903-1041 or contact us online to schedule a consultation. We offer a modern office with the latest technology for podiatric patients in Portage, Geauga, Cuyahoga, and Summit Counties, proudly serving our patients from Solon, Aurora, Bedford, Chagrin Falls, Hudson, Macedonia, and Twinsburg.
