Broken foot

Overview

A broken foot is a type of injury that affects the bone, which can be caused by various incidents such as a car accident or even a minor fall or misstep. Foot fractures can range in severity. Little bone fractures to breaks that puncture the skin are all examples of fractures.

Depending on the location and extent of the fracture, a broken foot may require different treatments. In order to retain the right posture during healing, a badly broken foot may need surgery to insert plates, rods, or screws into the damaged bone.

If you have experienced a fracture in your foot or ankle, it is important to seek treatment from an orthopedic surgeon who possesses comprehensive understanding of the complex interactions between bones, tendons, ligaments, and muscles in the affected area.

Symptoms

If you have a broken foot, you may experience several symptoms and warning signs, including:

• Sudden pain that feels like throbbing
• Pain that gets worse as you move around and gets better as you rest
• Trouble walking or carrying weight
• Swollen, tender, or bruised foot
• Deformed foot

If you notice a visible deformity in the foot, if self-care measures do not alleviate pain and swelling, or if the discomfort and swelling worsen progressively, it is advisable to consult a doctor. Additionally, if the injury makes it challenging for you to walk, seeking medical attention is recommended.

Causes

The most typical reasons for a broken foot are as follows:

• Vehicular accidents. These types of accidents often lead to crushing injuries that can cause bone fractures requiring surgical intervention to be mended.
• Falls. Your feet are vulnerable to fractures if you trip and fall or if you land on them after a short jump.
• Impact from a heavy weight. Dropping a heavy object on your foot is a common cause of fractures.
• Incorrect footsteps. Sometimes, placing your foot incorrectly can result in a broken bone. For instance, stubbing your toes on furniture can cause a broken toe.
• Overuse. The weight-bearing bones in your foot are prone to stress fractures. These minute fissures are typically brought on over time by misuse or repetitive force, such as long-distance jogging. But they can also happen when a bone that has been weakened by a condition like osteoporosis is used normally.

Risk factors

You can be more vulnerable to breaking your foot if you:

• Sports activity. Foot fractures can be brought on by strains, direct blows, and twisting accidents sustained when playing sports like basketball, football, gymnastics, tennis, and soccer.
• Incorrect usage of sports equipment. Stress fractures and falls can be caused by defective equipment, such as too-worn-out or improperly suited shoes. Ineffective training methods, such as skipping a warm-up and a stretch, can also result in foot issues.
• Abruptly intensifying activities. Whether you’re a seasoned athlete or someone who has only recently begun to exercise, abruptly increasing the frequency or length of your workouts can raise your chance of developing a stress fracture.
• Specific line of work. You run the risk of falling from a height or stepping on something heavy in various work settings, such as on a construction site.
• Untidy or dimly lighted house. Walking around in a house with too much clutter or too little light may lead to falls and foot injuries.
• Underlying disease. You run the risk of a foot fracture if you have osteoporosis, due to decreased bone density.