What is a fracture?

A fracture is a break in the bone. When a bone breaks, it may be called a fracture. A foot fracture is when the bone (metatarsal) in your foot breaks (fractures). Fractures are common injuries to the foot and ankle. These fractures can occur as a result of a fall, or sometimes they happen during regular activity. The most common fracture of the foot is the metatarsal fracture, in which one of the long bones (metatarsals) breaks.

What is a sprain?

A sprain occurs when any of the ligaments are torn from their attachments to other tissue. A foot sprain occurs when any ligaments that support your joints in your feet or ankles tear from their attachments to other tissue. Joints include knees, elbows, and toes, as well as those at the base of your spine, hips, and shoulders. Ligaments attach these joints and provide stability, continuity, and motion control for our body parts.

The muscles, bones, and soft tissues on the outside of your ankle may also be injured. A sprained foot can cause pain and swelling that gradually gets better as it heals. This can take days to weeks or more, depending on how bad the injury was.

Symptoms of fractures and sprains:

• Bruising, swelling, and pain at the site of the injury.
• Discoloration of the skin on the injured part of your body.
• Redness, warmth, and tenderness over a break in your bone or injury to a tendon.
• Pain that gets worse when you touch, move, or raise the injured area.

What treatments are available for foot and ankle fractures or sprains?

When you first have an injury, R.I.C.E. is an excellent treatment option to get some relief R.I.C.E stands for rest, ice, compression, and elevation. Rest the injured area and avoid putting weight or stress on it. Ice the injured area in 15 to 30-minute intervals. Compress the area to keep swelling down using a bandage or wrap. Elevate the injured area. It’s best if you can raise your foot/ankle above your heart. This helps reduce swelling. An over-the-counter pain reliever may be helpful.

Treatment of fractures and sprains depends on how serious they are.

General Treatment for Fractures includes:

Rest, medication, and after-care. If the fracture is severe or complicated, you may need surgery. Surgery can help to prevent more damage to the bone or joint by stabilizing it or reattaching ligaments back to their original attachments. Depending on the injury, you may be able to return to normal activities sooner or take it slow and return when ready as long as there are no complications of the injury. 

General Treatment for Sprains includes:

Rest, medication, and after-care. To strengthen or stretch the area that was injured, you may need physical therapy and rehabilitation. Minor sprains can usually go away on their own without more treatment. In more severe cases, surgery may be necessary for proper healing. 

If you have injured your foot or ankle, contact our Lake Ridge or Stafford podiatrists. We will diagnose the injury by determining if you have a sprain or a fracture and the severity. We will then work with you to develop the best treatment plan and options to get you back on your feet.