![]() Surgery to repair a calcaneus fracture can restore the normal shape of the bone but is sometimes associated with complications, such as wound healing problems, infection, and nerve damage. If the bones have shifted out of place (displaced), your doctor may recommend surgery. During this time, you will not be able to put any weight on your foot until the bone is completely healed. You may have to wear a cast for 6 to 8 weeks - or possibly longer. A cast, splint, or brace will hold the bones in your foot in proper position while they heal. ![]() Your doctor may recommend nonsurgical treatment if the pieces of broken bone have not been displaced by the force of the injury. Your doctor will discuss the different treatment options with you. In general, patients whose normal heel anatomy is restored have better outcomes, and in most cases, recreating the normal heel anatomy involves surgery. Your doctor will consider several factors in planning your treatment, including:īecause most calcaneus fractures cause the bone to widen and shorten, the goal of treatment is to restore the normal anatomy of the heel. Your doctor may share both your X-rays and CT scans with you to help you better understand the nature and severity of your injury. This information will help your doctor recommend the best plan for treatment. A CT scan will produce a more detailed image of your foot than an X-ray and can provide your doctor with valuable information about the severity of your fracture. Because of the complex anatomy of the calcaneus, a CT scan is routinely ordered after a fracture has been diagnosed on X-ray. An X-ray can show whether your calcaneus is broken and whether the bones are displaced.Ĭomputed tomography (CT) scans. X-rays, the most common and widely available diagnostic imaging technique, create images of dense structures, such as bone. Imaging studies will help confirm the diagnosis of a calcaneus fracture: Determine whether you have injured any other areas of your body by examining the rest of your injured leg, as well as your other leg, pelvis, and spine.Check to see if you can move your toes, and can feel things on the bottom of your foot.Check your pulse at key points of the foot to be sure that there is a good blood supply to the foot and toes.Examine your foot and ankle to see if your skin was damaged or punctured from the injury.Physical ExaminationĪfter discussing your symptoms and medical history, your doctor will perform a careful examination. It is also important that you tell your doctor if you have any other injuries or medical problems, such as diabetes, or if you take medications or smoke. For example, if you fell from a ladder, how far did you fall, and what type of surface did you land on? It is important that you tell your doctor the circumstances of your injury. Immediate treatment to clean the wound is required to prevent infection. Open fractures have a higher risk of infection in both the wound and the bone. ![]() An open fracture often causes more damage to the surrounding muscles, tendons, and ligaments and takes a longer time to heal. When the bone breaks and fragments stick out through the skin or if a wound penetrates down to the bone, the fracture is called an open fracture.
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