Foot Fracture

(Broken Foot; Fracture, Foot)

by Cynthia M. Johnson, MA

Definition

A foot fracture is a break in any of the bones in the foot.

Phalanx Fracture of the Foot

Causes

This injury is caused by trauma from:

Falls
Blows or object falling on the foot
Collisions
Severe twists
Stress on a weakened bone

Risk Factors

Things that may raise your risk are:

Health problems that result in falls, such as weak muscles
A sudden increase in activity
High-impact or repetitive sports, such as gymnastics, basketball, tennis, or running

Symptoms

Symptoms may be:

Pain
Swelling and bruising
Numbness in the toes or foot
Problems moving or walking
Changes in the way the foot looks

Diagnosis

The doctor will ask about your symptoms, past health, and injury. An exam will be done, focusing on the foot.

Images of the foot may be taken. This can be done with x-rays.

Treatment

How it is treated depends on whether the injury is mild or severe. Options may be:

Initial Care

Initial care may be:

Ice to ease pain and swelling
Medicine to ease pain
A splint, walking boot, stiff-soled shoe, or cast to keep the bones of the foot in place as it heals
Crutches to keep weight off of the foot
Exercises to help with strength and motion

Children's bones have growth plates that let bones grow and harden with age. A child with this type of fracture will need to be checked over time to make sure the bone heals the right way and keeps growing.

Surgery

Surgery may be needed for severe fractures or those that are not healing well.

Prevention

Most fractures are due to accidents. Healthy bones may prevent injury. This may be done through exercise.

RESOURCES:

American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine
http://www.sportsmed.org

Ortho Info—American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
http://www.orthoinfo.org

CANADIAN RESOURCES:

Canadian Orthopaedic Association
http://www.coa-aco.org

Canadian Orthopaedic Foundation
http://www.canorth.org

References:

Foot fractures and dislocations. Patient UK website. Available at:
...(Click grey area to select URL)
Accessed September 24, 2020.

Stress fractures of the foot and ankle. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/stress-fractures-of-the-foot-and-ankle. Accessed September 24, 2020.

Stress fractures of the foot and ankle. Ortho Info—American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons website. Available at:
...(Click grey area to select URL)
Accessed September 24, 2020.

Toe and forefoot fractures. Ortho Info—American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons website. Available at:
...(Click grey area to select URL)
Accessed September 24, 2020.

Welck MJ, Hayes T, et al. Stress fractures of the foot and ankle. Injury 2017 Aug;48(8):1722-1726.

Last reviewed September 2020 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Warren A. Bodine, DO, CAQSM
Last Updated: 8/25/2020

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