A foot or ankle fracture disrupts every aspect of your life. That’s why Dominique Nickson, MD an orthopedic surgeon and foot pain expert at Next Step Orthopedics, has been fixing broken feet and ankles for the people of McKinney, Texas, and the surrounding areas for years. If you have persistent foot or ankle pain or suspect you may have a fracture, call or book an appointment online right away.
request an appointmentWhat are the signs of a broken foot or ankle?
While it might seem pretty clear when you break your foot or ankle, it’s not always so simple. An impact from a heavy object landing on your foot or a fall from a great height are both obvious ways to fracture the bones in your feet. But stress fractures can cause the bones of the foot and ankle to crack over time.
Everyday use of your feet, especially when coupled with less than ideal footwear, can lead to the slow development of broken bones. Stress fractures are an accumulation of wear on the foot or ankle that eventually gives way to pain and other symptoms, including:
- Throbbing
- Bruising
- Swelling
- Tenderness
- Deformity
- Inability to walk
Many people who have foot or ankle pain don’t realize that the dull ache that’s steadily getting worse is actually a broken bone.
How is a broken foot or ankle treated?
Dr. Nickson first identifies your foot pain with a thorough examination. If he suspects a fracture, he orders imaging tests, such as X-rays, an MRI, ultrasound, or CT scan.
Typically, a cast or immobilizing boot and crutches are used to stabilize the break and prevent your foot or ankle from bearing any weight that could make the injury worse.
If the break is severe enough that both ends of the fracture are out of alignment, Dr. Nickson may perform a nonsurgical reduction to put the broken halves back in line so they can correctly knit together and heal inside the cast.
In the case of a severe break, Dr. Nickson may perform surgery to reset the bones, remove excess material, or pin and plate the bones back together.
How long does it take to recover from a broken foot or ankle?
Dr. Nickson treats all foot and ankle breaks with the utmost care and specializes in getting you back on your feet quickly and safely. Recovery from most treatments, both surgical and nonsurgical, take about 6-8 weeks provided there are no complications; however, compound fractures requiring pins or plates can take three months to heal completely.
If you have a broken foot or ankle, or you suspect one, call or book an appointment online right away.