Fractures Specialist

What is a fracture?

When you fracture your foot or ankle, it means you have a broken bone.

Fractures range from a partial break in one spot to multiple fractures throughout the area. Minor fractures might not cause significant pain and may be mistaken for sprains or strains, while compound fractures can take you off your feet for months.

Multiple issues can cause foot and ankle fractures, but most often they occur when you twist or rotate your ankle or roll on it. These injuries can happen when you play sports or when you trip or fall. Sometimes, ankle and foot fractures result from car or bicycle accidents.

How is a fracture diagnosed?

Sometimes, a fractured ankle may not hurt as bad as you think it should, and many people mistake broken bones for bad sprains. Because the symptoms overlap, Dr. Sibel recommends  getting a professional evaluation anytime you injure your foot or ankle and experience the following symptoms:

• Immediate and severe pain
• Bruising
• Swelling
• Tenderness
• Inability to bear weight
• Disfigurement or dislocation

If Dr. Sibel or Dr. Savage believes you may have a fracture, he orders image testing to verify the diagnosis and determine the severity of the break. Depending on your injury, he may request you get an X-ray, stress test, CT scan, or MRI.

How is a fracture treated?

Dr. Sibel or Dr. Savage determines the best treatment for your fracture based on the type of break, its location, and severity.

If your break is minor and your ankle feels stable, Dr. Sibel or Dr. Savage may suggest a nonsurgical treatment. Instead of surgery, he may use a cast, brace, or high-top shoe to support the leg while it heals. In some cases, you may need to use an assistive device, like crutches, to keep weight off the injured ankle or foot. He often orders physical therapy as well.

When you have a complicated break or your ankle is dislocated, Dr. Sibel or Dr. Savage may recommend surgery. He may need to reposition your bone, or uses rods, screws, and metal plates to hold bones in place.

Usually, your surgeon restricts how much weight you put on the injured foot or ankle as you recover from surgery. Dr. Sibel and Dr. Savage use follow-up X-rays to determine how well your fracture is healing.

If you think you may have fractured your foot or ankle, don’t wait to get an evaluation. Call Orthopedic Foot & Ankle Institute or go online to schedule your appointment today.