Traumatic Foot Injuries
When most people think of a podiatrist, they picture cases of athlete’s foot, ingrown toenails, plantar fasciitis, and toenail fungus. But podiatrists also deal with serious trauma to the foot and ankle. Trauma is any injury to the foot's bones, joints, muscles, tendons, or ligaments. Traumatic injuries are often sudden and unexpected. They can result from a car accident, fall, or sports injury.
Here are some examples of traumatic foot injuries:
Fractures: Complete, incomplete, displaced, open, or stress fractures.
Ankle sprains and fractures.
Tears or ruptures to the Achilles tendon.
Joint dislocation.
Heel bone fracture.
Sometimes, when there’s a severe injury, the podiatrist must perform complex reconstructive surgery to repair damage, regain function and stability, and reduce pain.
Preparing for the Best Outcome
Whether emergent or planned, there are several steps the podiatric surgeon must take before surgery can begin. Depending on the type and reason for your surgery, some of these may include:
Getting a complete medical history of past and current conditions and injuries.
Know any medications or supplements you are taking and any medication allergies.
Blood test.
EKG.
Imaging studies such as X-rays and MRIs.
Circulation tests.
Your Best Recovery
Once the surgery is complete, the podiatrist will discuss your care plan for recovery. The type of aftercare and the time it will take to recover will depend on the type of foot surgery you had. Primary post-operative care often involves some form of rest, ice, compression, and elevation of the injured foot. There may also be bandages to change and splints or casts to be worn. In some cases, additional equipment such as surgical shoes, crutches, scooters, canes, or a walker may be ordered to ensure your safety as you move around after surgery.
It's important to discuss with your foot doctor approximately how long it will be before you can:
Bear weight on the foot that was operated on.
Go up and down stairs.
Drive.
Go back to work.
The answers to these questions will help you set up your home for recovery and determine the type and amount of help you need while healing from your surgery. The best and fastest recoveries require you, as the patient, to follow all the doctor’s instructions.
If you want to find podiatrists in your area, consult the online directory. To learn more about foot injuries and treatments, contact us and subscribe to our free e-newsletter.