What are the types of foot and ankle fractures?
The Iowa Clinic Foot & Ankle Surgery department provides foot and ankle fracture care of all kinds, including:
- Stress fractures
- Ankle joint fractures
- Avulsion fractures
- Toe fractures
- Talar fractures
- Calcaneal fractures
- Sesamoid bone fractures
- Metatarsal bone fractures
How are foot and ankle fractures treated?
Fractures are diagnosed by a medical professional who will perform a physical examination. Imaging is usually performed to confirm the diagnosis assess the severity and determine the treatment. X-rays, musculoskeletal ultrasounds, MRI, CT scans, and weight-bearing CT scans may be ordered.
Some fractures require surgery depending on the severity, displacement, and location of the fracture. For those that do not require surgery, rest, ice, compression, and elevation are recommended.
Intra-articular fractures (the break extends into the joint), displaced fractures, open fractures (bone breaks the skin), comminuted fractures (where the bone breaks into pieces), avulsion, and certain types of stress fractures will typically require surgical intervention.