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Fractures
Fractures commonly affect those who participate in sports, have weak or brittle bones, or are susceptible to falling and other accidents. If left untreated, your bones could grow back incorrectly, causing severe problems in the future. With experience treating all types of fractures affecting the foot and ankle, dual board-certified foot and ankle podiatric surgeon E. Giannin Perez, DPM, FACFAS, at Flex Foot and Ankle in Midtown Manhattan area of New York City, can provide the proper treatment for your injury. Call her office or book an appointment online today.
Fractures Q & A
What is a fracture?
A fracture is a broken bone, and broken bones are a common result of falls, sports injuries, or other high-impact injuries.
Symptoms of a fracture include:
- Intense aches and pain
- Swelling or tenderness around the impacted area
- Deformity of the limb or exposed bone
- Bruising
If you experience any of these symptoms in your foot or ankle and suspect you have a fracture, visit Flex Foot and Ankle as soon as possible for expert treatment.
What are common types of fractures?
The type of fracture depends on the severity of the break. Sometimes bones crack rather than break completely. In severe cases, such as a car crash, bones can even shatter.
Common types of fractures include:
- Partial: Incomplete break of the bone
- Complete: Bone breaks into two parts
- Closed or simple: Fracture doesn’t break the skin
- Open or compound fracture: Bone breaks through the skin
- Stable: Broken ends of the bone line up, appearing barely out of place
Stress fractures occur due to overuse and repetitive activity and are very common in runners and athletes.
If you’re involved in a high-impact accident, you may experience a displaced (unstable) fracture, where a gap exists between the broken ends of the bone. This often requires surgery to treat.
How are fractures treated?
Dr. Perez at Flex Foot and Ankle specializes in all types of fractures affecting the foot and ankle. She carefully examines the break with X-rays first and if needed with advanced imaging, such as CT scans. She will then show you the kind of fracture you have and its location.
Dr. Perez typically places a cast made of plaster or fiberglass around the affected area to keep the bones in the proper position to heal. She might suggest you temporarily use crutches or a walking boot to keep pressure off your broken foot or ankle.
In more severe cases, if you have a displaced or unstable bone fracture, she might recommend surgery to repair the broken bone and ensure proper healing.
If you’ve suffered physical trauma or you suspect you have a fracture, call the office in Midtown Manhattan or use the online booking tool to schedule an appointment with Dr. Perez today.