The feet and ankles play an essential role in the support and mobility of a person’s body. When a traumatic injury happens like a break or a fracture, the outcome can severely hinder your ability to perform daily tasks.
No one plans on having a broken bone, but luckily at Shady Grove Podiatry, we have the services necessary to relieve your pain and help you heal. Our highly skilled podiatrists specialize in repair of traumatic injury of the feet and ankles. From diagnosis through recovery, you’ll receive expert care and information from some of the top podiatrists in Maryland.
REQUEST AN APPOINTMENT
We're focused on helping you get back in action – get in touch today.
CONTACT USWhen a Break Happens
Any of the three bones that make up the ankle joint are susceptible to breakage due to an event of a fall, automotive accident or any other type of trauma. Broken ankles can also be mistaken for sprains and should be thoroughly examined by a podiatrist to diagnose the condition. Symptoms of a broken ankle include:
- Swelling
- Bruising
- Inability to put weight on the injured foot
- Immediate/severe pain
Though less common, fractures can also occur in the bones of the foot.
Conditions Treated
There are times when the unthinkable happens and your foot or ankle becomes fractured or broken. Here are some of the common conditions that we treat at Shady Grove Podiatry:
- Ankle sprain
- Broken ankle
- Foot fractures
Early intervention of a traumatic foot or ankle injury usually results in a quicker recovery and an overall better outcome. If you suspect you have broken or sprained your foot or ankle, you should schedule an appointment immediately with one of our board-certified podiatrists who are skilled in treating traumatic foot and ankle injuries.
OUR DOCTORS
Our team of doctors is committed to providing the most advanced podiatry options to meet your needs.
MEET OUR DOCTORSDiagnosis
Understanding how the injury occurred is the first step in diagnosing the injury. Your podiatrist will examine your ankle and/or foot and evaluate the degree of swelling and bruising. In some cases when a stress fracture or broken bone is suspected, an X-ray, stress test, computed tomography (CT), or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be recommended to pinpoint the exact location of the break and whether there are other related injuries.
Your podiatrist will use this information to customize a treatment plan. Your specific treatment will depend on the type of injury that occurred and may require a few different treatment options to help you recover properly and regain strength in the affected area.
Symptoms of Traumatic Foot and Ankle Injuries
Oftentimes, traumatic foot and ankle injuries result in sprains or fractures. Sprains occur when the ligaments in the foot or ankle are partially or completely torn. Fractures, on the other hand, occur when a bone cracks or breaks. Despite the differences, sprains and fractures have similar symptoms.
Symptoms that may indicate a sprain or fracture of the foot or ankle include:
- Pain when bearing weight
- Swelling
- Bruising
- Limited range of motion or instability
Most patients will notice pain and swelling with foot and ankle trauma. How fast and how severe these symptoms present themselves can be an indicator of the type of traumatic injury that has occurred. A fractured foot or sprain typically has some pain, swelling and bruising. However, you may be able to bear weight on the extremity, depending on the break’s location.
With a broken ankle, you’ll most likely not be able to put any weight on your extremity, and you may also notice deformity just by looking at it. Sudden and severe pain, swelling and bruising are common when dealing with this type of injury.
Treatment
The type of injury and the severity of damage will determine the treatment you’ll need. Some patients may only need bracing to heal, while others may require surgery.
In the event that the fractured foot is stable and there is no damage to the ligament, it may be rehabilitated with just a leg cast or brace. If the fracture or breakage is more severe, a long leg cast may be required initially, then replaced by a shorter walking cast.
The timespan for a broken ankle to heal is from 6 weeks to several months. Shady Grove Podiatry will also request a follow-up appointment before you resume any sports activity. X-rays will help conclude how much additional time is needed to have your bones fully heal.
If the ligaments are torn, or the fracture created a loose bone fragment which aggravates the joint, surgery may be required so the bones can heal properly. When surgery is necessary, our podiatric surgeons will use metal plates, metal absorbable screws, staples or tension bands to hold the bones in place.
At Shady Grove Podiatry, we offer a comprehensive treatment that treats the injury and strengthens the muscles to help prevent future injuries from reoccurring.
Contact Shady Grove Podiatry Today
For urgent treatment of trauma to the foot/ankle, contact us online or call Shady Grove Podiatry in Gaithersburg, Maryland today at 301-948-2995.
Telephone No.3019482995
