Sprains & Fractures

Striving To Cover All Your Foot & Ankle Needs

The feet and ankles work together to provide support and mobility to the body. A foot or ankle sprain is a soft tissue injury. Most often, a sprain occurs when an injury pulls, stretches, or tears the ligaments that connect bone to bone. A fracture is actually a break in the bone.

Causes 

Injuries are the most common causes of foot and ankle sprains and fractures. Many fractures and sprains occur during sports. Football players are particularly vulnerable to foot and ankle sprains and fractures. Basketball players are prone to ankle sprains, and runners may develop stress fractures of the ankle or foot. Gymnasts and dancers may also develop stress fractures.

Tripping or stumbling on uneven ground is another common cause of foot and ankle sprains and fractures.

Symptoms 

Pain, swelling, bruising, and difficulty walking on the affected foot or ankle are the most common symptoms of a sprained or fractured foot or ankle.

Home Care  

If you’ve hurt your foot or ankle, it’s best to err on the side of caution. The acronym RICE can help you remember what to do:

Rest—Rest the affected area. Stay off the injured foot or ankle until it can be fully evaluated. Walking, running, or playing sports on an injured foot or ankle may make the injury worse.

Ice—Apply ice to the affected area as soon as possible, and reapply it for 15–20 minutes every three or four hours for the first 48 hours after injury. Ice can decrease inflammation.

Compression—Wrap an elastic bandage (such as an Ace® wrap) around the affected foot or ankle. The wrapping should be snug, but not so tight as to cut off circulation.

Elevation—Elevate the affected extremity on a couple of pillows; ideally, your foot or ankle should be higher than your heart. Keeping your foot or ankle elevated also decreases swelling.

When to Visit a Podiatrist 

Podiatrists are doctors who specialize in the care and treatment of the lower extremities. If you’ve injured your foot or ankle, see Dr. Farajian.  She can determine the extent of the injury and develop a plan of care to get you back in the game (or back to your everyday life) as soon as possible.

Increased pain, swelling, bruising, redness, or difficulty walking after an injury are definite signs that it’s time to see a podiatrist.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Dr. Farajian will carefully examine your feet and ankles and take a complete medical history. She will also order tests, including an X-ray, ultrasound, or MRI, to determine the extent of your injury. If you have a fracture that’s clearly visible on X-ray, you may not need additional testing. Ultrasounds and MRIs are useful for finding soft issue injuries (including torn ligaments) and stress fractures.

Treatment will depend on your injury. If you have a broken bone, Dr. Farajian may attempt to “reduce” the fracture, which means lining up the ends of the bones so they can heal properly. (You’ll be given a local anesthetic to numb the area first.) If the fracture is “unstable,” meaning that the ends of the bone do not stay in place after a reduction, surgery may be needed. Podiatrists can use metal plates and screws to fix broken bones.

Stress fractures are treated with rest and immobilization. You will be instructed to stay off the affected area until healing is complete. Crutches and/or a special “boot” or cast may be used to immobilize the area.

Sprains are also treated with a period of immobilization. Depending on the extent of your sprain, you may be able to resume activity fairly quickly, or you may need to wear a soft cast or special “boot” and use crutches for a period of weeks.

Professional athletes may undergo surgery to repair torn ligaments.

Oral anti-inflammatory medication, such as ibuprofen, can be used to decrease pain, swelling, and inflammation.

Prevention

Warming up prior to physical activity can prevent ankle sprains and fractures. So can wearing proper shoes. If you’re an athlete, talk to Dr. Farajian to determine which shoes are best for your sport.  Athletic shoes should be replaced yearly; running shoes should be replaced every 300–400 miles or so.

Avoid running or walking on uneven surfaces.

Common myths

1. “It can’t be broken, because I can move it.” False; this widespread idea has kept many fractures from receiving proper treatment.  The truth is that often you can walk with certain kinds of fractures. Some common examples:  Breaks in the smaller, outer bone of the lower leg, small chip fractures of either the foot or
ankle bones, and the often neglected fracture of the toe.

2. “If you break a toe, immediate care isn’t necessary.”  False; a toe fracture needs promptattention. If X-rays reveal it to be a simple, displaced fracture, care by your podiatric physician usually can produce rapid relief.  However, X-rays might identify a displaced or angulated break. In such cases, prompt realignment of the fracture by your podiatric physician will help prevent improper or incomplete healing. Often, fractures do not show up in the initial X-ray. It may be necessary to X-ray the foot a second time, seven to ten days later. Many patients develop post-fracture deformity of a toe, which in turn results in a deformed toe with a painful corn.  A good general rule is: Seek prompt treatment for injury to foot bones.

3. “If you have a foot or ankle injury, soak it in hot water immediately.” False; don’t use heat or hot water on an area suspect for fracture, sprain, or
dislocation. Heat promotes blood flow, causing greater swelling. More swelling means greater pressure on the nerves, which causes more pain. An ice bag wrapped in a towel has a contracting effect on blood vessels, produces a numbing sensation, and prevents swelling and pain. Dr. Farajian may make additional recommendations upon examination.

4. “Applying an elastic bandage to a severelysprained ankle is adequate treatment.” False; ankle sprains often mean torn orseverely overstretched ligaments, and they should receive immediate care. Xray examination, immobilization by casting or splinting, and physiotherapy to ensure a normal recovery all may be indicated. Surgery may even be necessary.

5. “The terms ‘fracture,’ ‘break,’ and‘crack’ are all different.” False; all of those words are proper in describing a broken bone.