Foot Seas Podiatry
There are a total of 28 bones in the feet. The feet are normally the first thing to touch the ground when walking, running, or moving in general. For these reasons the feet are one of the more common areas for fractures. The severity of the fractures can vary greatly from a small crack in the little toe to a large fracture of the ankle in which the bones have moved and need to be realigned.
The most common fracture of the entire body is a fracture of the fifth toe (little toe). This often happens when a person is walking and runs the foot into a piece of furniture or other household object. This fracture usually only requires rest, and a shoe that does not bend at the toes, to heal properly. The many other types of fractures that can affect the feet are unique in the problems that they pose for the patient and doctor.
The major decision when evaluating a fracture is whether the fracture requires surgery or can be treated by casting. Often this decision is made depending on the severity of the fracture, whether the bones have moved away from each other, and whether not fixing the fracture will lead to problems down the road.
One of the main problems that is caused by an untreated fracture is arthritis. When a bone breaks and changes its position this can cause changes in the alignment of the joints. These changes can cause the joints to breakdown. The arthritis can cause chronic pain and possibility of more expensive surgeries in the future.
If a person has injured themselves then the best course of action is to be evaluated by a doctor who specializes in the area that the person injured. X-rays will be taken and in some occasions more extensive testing will take place. Your podiatrist will discuss the different options both surgical and nonsurgical for treatment of your injury. Often times the injury is not a fracture at all, just a severe sprain or bone bruise. This will all be discussed with you so that you may make an educated decision on your own care.
There is often a timetable of when the fracture should be treated. It is not advisable to delay seeing a physician after injuring yourself.
