Foot & Ankle Injuries

Immediate Treatment

Foot and ankle emergencies happen every day. Broken bones, dislocations, sprains, contusions,
infections, and other serious injuries can occur at any time. Early attention is vitally important.
Whenever you sustain a foot or ankle injury, you should seek immediate treatment from a podiatric
physician.

This advice is universal, even though there are lots of myths about foot and ankle injuries. Some of
them follow:

Myths

  • "It can't be broken, because I can move it." False; this widespread idea has kept many
    fractures from receiving proper treatment. The truth is that often you can walk with certain
    kinds of fractures. Some common examples: Breaks in the smaller, outer bone of the lower
    leg, small chip fractures of either the foot or ankle bones, and the often neglected fracture of
    the toe.

  • "If you break a toe, immediate care isn't necessary." False; a toe fracture needs prompt
    attention. If X-rays reveal it to be a simple, displaced fracture, care by your podiatric physician
    usually can produce rapid relief. However, X-rays might identify a displaced or angulated
    break. In such cases, prompt realignment of the fracture by your podiatric physician will help
    prevent improper or incomplete healing. Often, fractures do not show up in the initial X-ray. It
    may be necessary to X-ray the foot a second time, seven to ten days later. Many patients
    develop post-fracture deformity of a toe, which in turn results in a deformed toe with a painful
    corn. A good general rule is: Seek prompt treatment for injury to foot bones.

  • "If you have a foot or ankle injury, soak it in hot water immediately." False; don’t use heat or
    hot water on an area suspect for fracture, sprain, or dislocation. Heat promotes blood flow,
    causing greater swelling. More swelling means greater pressure on the nerves, which
    causes more pain. An ice bag wrapped in a towel has a contracting effect on blood vessels,
    produces a numbing sensation, and prevents swelling and pain. Your podiatric physician
    may make additional recommendations upon examination.

  • "Applying an elastic bandage to a severely sprained ankle is adequate treatment." False;
    ankle sprains often mean torn or severely overstretched ligaments, and they should receive
    immediate care. X-ray examination, immobilization by casting or splinting, and physiotherapy
    to ensure a normal recovery all may be indicated. Surgery may even be necessary.

  • "The terms 'fracture,' 'break,' and 'crack' are all different." False; all of those words are proper
    in describing a broken bone.

Before Seeing the Podiatrist

If an injury or accident does occur, the steps you can take to help yourself until you can reach your
podiatric physician are easy to remember if you can recall the word “rice.”

  • Rest. Restrict your activity and get off your foot/ankle.
  • Ice. Gently place a plastic bag of ice wrapped in a towel on the injured area in a 20-minute-
    on, 40-minute-off cycle.
  • Compression. Lightly wrap an Ace bandage around the area, taking care not to pull it too
    tight.
  • Elevation. To reduce swelling and pain, sit in a position that allows you to elevate the
    foot/ankle higher than your waist.
  • For bleeding cuts, cleanse well, apply pressure with gauze or a towel, and cover with a clean
    dressing. See your podiatrist as soon as possible. It’s best not to use any medication on the
    cut before you see the doctor.
  • Leave blisters unopened if they are not painful or in a weight-bearing area of the foot. A
    compression bandage placed over a blister can provide relief.
  • Foreign materials in the skin—such as slivers, splinters, and sand—can be removed
    carefully, but a deep foreign object, such as broken glass or a needle, must be removed
    professionally.
  • Treatment for an abrasion is similar to that of a burn, since raw skin is exposed to the air and
    can easily become infected. It is important to remove all foreign particles with thorough
    cleaning. Sterile bandages should be applied, along with an antibiotic cream or ointment.

Prevention

  • Wear the correct shoes for your particular activity.
  • Wear hiking shoes or boots in rough terrain.
  • Don't continue to wear any sports shoe if it is worn unevenly.
  • The toe box in “steel-toe” shoes should be deep enough to accommodate your toes
    comfortably.
  • Always wear hard-top shoes when operating a lawn mower or other grass-cutting equipment.
  • Don’t walk barefoot on paved streets or sidewalks.
  • Watch out for slippery floors at home and at work. Clean up obviously dangerous spills
    immediately.
  • If you get up during the night, turn on a light. Many fractured toes and other foot injuries occur
    while attempting to find one’s way in the dark.