4 Types of Fractures
Bone fractures or broken bones are the same: painful, immobilizing and require proper care and treatment. Your feet are a complex structure of many bones and joints, making them prone to fractures if caution is not practiced.
There are different types of fractures that will determine the amount of time you need to stay off your feet and wear a cast for support if required.
- Hairline fracture: this is the least severe type of fracture; however, it is still very painful. It is caused by excessive and repetitive stress on the bone and is usually common among athletes. It is also sometimes referred to as a stress fracture.
- Non-displaced fracture: this happens when one of your bones is completely broken; however, the ends of the bone are still in the same place as they would otherwise have been. With proper support and rest, the bone can rejoin. The healing process in such cases is more prolonged than stress or hairline fractures.
- Displaced fracture: as the name suggests, a displaced fracture is when the bone has broken and has changed its direction. Depending on the angle of the crack, it could move horizontally, vertically, or diagonally and become unaligned. Extra support is required to bring the bones back in their position and then push them to rejoin from the cracked area. In some severe cases, additional plates may have to be implanted through surgery to connect the bone.
- Fractures caused by joint or bone deformity: Due to insufficient nutrients, your bones may become weak and lose their strength. With repeated stress, the bones or joints can change their shape and become deformed, and eventually crack due to lack of support. Visit your podiatrist to understand how you can improve your bone strength.
The location of the fracture is also essential to determine the healing time required. While a fractured toe may heal earlier, the furthest metatarsal will require a much longer time to heal due to reduced blood flow.
Extremely severe injuries may require surgeries to correct and fix bone fractures. It is important that you take fractures seriously and follow your doctor’s treatment plan. Even if the bone heals, it is still weak and can break again if care is not taken. Consult your podiatrist for a healthy diet so that your bones are strong and get all the nutrients they require to keep your bones and joints intact.
The foot experts at Desert Podiatric Medical Specialists in the Tucson, Oro Valley, and Green Valley areas of Pima County, Arizona, have unparalleled experience treating all aspects of foot and ankle care. Our team of doctors: Christopher M. Funk, D.P.M., FACFAS, Bradley A. Whitaker, D.P.M., FACFAS, Peter C. Merrill, D.P.M., AACFAS, and Zeno Pfau, D.P.M., is dedicated to serving you with state-of-the-art, cutting edge medical technologies, including the PinPointe FootLaser, custom-fitted orthotics, and Radial Pulse Therapy (RPT) for chronic foot, heel, or ankle pain. If you have any questions or want to make an appointment, please call (520) 575-0800.
