Have you had an accident or a fall, and you feel pain around your rear foot? You would surely want to know if you have had a heel fracture. The truth is, diagnosing heel fractures can be complex. However, foot and ankle specialists at Celebration Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine Institute in Celebration discuss tips for identifying and treating heel fractures and why immediate medical evaluation is vital. If you need the best Orlando foot and ankle clinic, call us now!

Tips For Identifying And Treating Heel Fractures

The heel bone, known as the Calcaneus, is unique and often regarded as a hardboiled egg. It has an outer surface that safeguards the inner tender, spongier bone. When the outer part breaks, the bone will collapse and fragment. Fragmented bones do not always heal. That means calcaneus fractures will not be easy to address. As a result of their complexity and the tendency of healing incorrectly, what most surgeons will recommend is surgery. Heel fractures can be intra-articular fractures or extra-articular fractures.

  • Intra-articular Fracture- This is often a more severe fracture, as this means that the fracture involves the subtalar joint. It can as well involve damage to the cartilage in the region.
  • Extra-articular fracture- This fracture does not involve the subtalar joint. However, it doesn’t mean they are less complex. An extra-articular fracture can result in a fragmented fracture, and surgery is required to address it.

Identifying Calcaneus Fracture

One of the best ways to rule out a heel fracture is to visit a specialist’s office. The examination starts by asking you some of the symptoms you are experiencing and how you got injured. Surgeons might also look at the injured area and ask you to do a few physical tests. And finally, with the help of an x-ray, they’ll identify the actual problem.

Full Treatment

The treatment of a heel fracture is based on the findings of specialists. If it’s a non-fragmented fracture, it will heal all by itself. So, what they will recommend is a few weeks of non-surgical treatment alongside some follow-up appointments to accelerate the healing process. You might have to use a cast or walking boot to protect the region or undergo RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation) treatment. If the problem is a displaced fracture, then surgery will be recommended because the heel would not heal properly otherwise. If swollen, it will need to subside before the surgery can be performed. Surgery might involve the insertion of plates, wires, and screws to fasten the bones in the correct location allowing the healing to run its course.

Contact Us

Fixing a Calcaneus bone is a complex surgery. Thus, you need the best surgeon in an ankle and foot center to perform this operation. That is the only way you can get relief and get your heel restored to its initial position. If you or your loved one has heel fractures in Celebration, consult our skilled surgeon at Celebration Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine Institute to learn more about the tips for identifying and treating heel fractures. At the foot and ankle center, we perform comprehensive and superior foot and ankle treatment for patients in a caring clinical atmosphere. Want to talk more about your heel pain at the best foot and ankle wellness center? Call us now!