While it may seem like the answer to this question should be obvious, foot and ankle fractures are not always immediately evident. The cause and type of fracture are clues that our patients at Foot & Ankle Specialists, PC often look to in deciding whether or not to call our office regarding a possible fracture.

Injury Fractures—If you’ve been in an accident, had a fall or went down on the playing field and now a part of your foot or ankle is in severe pain and swelling up you are more likely to think fracture. General bone fractures are the most common type. They go all the way through the bone and may even break through the skin. This is known as an open fracture. These are the types of breaks that usually land patients in the emergency room. In addition to whether or not the fracture is open or closed, the foot and ankle surgeon will be checking to see if the fracture is displaced, meaning that where the break has occurred there is also a shift in the alignment of the bones that also needs to be corrected for the bones to heal properly. Stable fractures where the bones have not moved out of alignment are quicker to heal.

Stress Fractures—By contrast, stress fractures are more subtle in their symptoms. Patients with stress fractures may experience pain and even swelling, bruising and tenderness to the touch at the site of the fracture but these symptoms may be intermittent and go away when you rest your foot. That’s because a stress fracture doesn’t go all the way through the bone. It is a hairline crack in the surface of the bone, caused by either overuse (repetitive motion put on the same bone) or a sudden increase in activity that put just enough stress or pressure on the bone to cause the tiny crack.

Twisting Fractures—This is not so much a type of fracture as an indicator of the cause. Certain ankle and foot fractures are the result of a twisting injury that is severe enough to actually cause a fracture or a piece of the bone to break away. Patients often delay coming into our Monroe or Lambertville office for this type of fracture because they think it’s a sprain and are treating it as such.

If you experience any of the circumstances or symptoms above, it’s important to get your foot evaluated by one of our podiatrists, Dr. Scott E. Hughes, Dr. Greg P. Vogt, Dr. Christine I. Tumele, and Dr. Matthew W.E. Lewin. Fractures where treatment is delayed can result in delayed healing and even disability. Contact our office online or by calling: 734-241-0200 or 734-856-8900.