Foot Fracture

Your symptoms, and how painful they are, will depend on how bad the fracture is. 

The main symptoms of a broken foot include:

• immediate and severe pain in your foot

• swelling

• bruising

• deformity

• difficulty walking

• pain when you’re resting

• dizziness from the pain

• an audible break sound when the fracture occurs

If you’ve experienced a physical incident that has resulted in one or more of these symptoms, you should see a consultant as soon as possible.

Foot fractures usually occur as a result of injury. This could be any incident that causes a significant physical impact, such as falling from a jump, dropping something heavy on your foot, sustaining an injury while playing sports, or being involved in a car accident.

Stress fractures can also happen with long-term overuse, such as running long distances, or if you have weakened bones due to osteoporosis. 

Risk factors

Some people are more at risk of fracturing their foot. Your chance may be higher if you:

• play high-risk sports such as football, tennis, or do gymnastics

• suddenly increase your activity levels

• have clutter or other trip hazards in your home or place of work

• have a condition that weakens your bones, such as osteoporosis or arthritis

You’ll see your consultant for an initial consultation. During this appointment, they’ll ask you about your medical history, your symptoms, and the event that caused your suspected fracture. They’ll also examine your foot.

Your consultant will then likely want to run some tests to determine the severity of your fracture. These could include:

• X-ray scan

• CT scan

• MRI scan

Once your consultant knows exactly which bones are cracked or broken and how serious the damage is, they’ll recommend the best treatment for you.

You can’t prevent a foot fracture caused by an unexpected injury. However, you can reduce your risk. Here are some steps you can take:

• take proper precautions on uneven surfaces or when you’re walking across areas with a risk of falling

• if you’re taking part in sport, make sure you complete a warm-up before you start

• if you run on hills, make sure the surface isn’t too slippery, and avoid running too fast downhill

• when exercising, make sure you’re wearing purpose-made shoes (tennis shoes, running shoes, basketball shoes)

• strengthen your bones by including calcium-rich foods, such as cheese and green, leafy vegetables, in your diet.

Most people who fracture their foot don’t experience any further complications. However, some rare potential complications associated with foot fractures include:

• arthritis

• osteomyelitis (a serious bone infection)

• nerve damage

• blood vessel damage

If you don’t seek treatment for a fractured foot, your bones could heal in an unnatural way, which can lead to permanent mobility issues. 

Your treatment options will vary depending on how serious your fracture is. Your consultant may recommend that you:

• follow the RICE method (rest, ice, compression, elevation)

• take over-the-counter pain medication

• take prescription pain medication

• have physiotherapy 

• undergo surgery

At Welbeck, our orthopaedic surgeons are experts in their field and are dedicated to providing world-class care to every patient.

With access to colleagues across other specialties, our consultants are also able to refer within the Welbeck ecosystem if required to ensure you receive the treatment you need as quickly as possible, all under one roof.  

All appointments, testing, treatment, and follow-up appointments take place within our state-of-the-art facilities, enabling us to deliver accurate diagnostics and advanced treatments.

Your health is important to us, so we strive to offer same-day appointments whenever possible.

Our consultants are recognised by the major health insurance companies. If you have private health insurance, your treatment at Welbeck can begin once you have obtained authorisation. We also provide care to self-paying patients. Learn more about the different payment options at Welbeck.

Get in touch today to book an appointment.