What is the best treatment for a fractured heel?
Doctors consult an orthopedist to determine the best treatment for heel fractures. Treatment may consist of protection (usually by a splint), rest, ice, compression, and elevation (PRICE), followed by a cast, or surgery to put the broken pieces of bone back in place and keep them in place.
How long does a fractured heel take to recover?
General Treatment The broken bone will take 3-4 months to heal with or without surgery. If surgery is not needed, there will still be a time where movement and weight bearing is limited. Calcaneus fractures that benefit from surgery often involve breaks within the subtalar joint (the joint just below your ankle joint).
Can you walk on a fractured heel bone?
Symptoms of a heel fracture include pain, swelling and bruising of the heel. Patients usually are unable to walk.
How long does it take to walk after a calcaneus fracture?
Some patients can begin weight-bearing activities a few weeks after injury or surgery; others may need to wait 3 months or more before putting weight on the heel. Most patients are able to begin partial weight bearing between 6 and 10 weeks after injury or surgery.
How painful is a heel fracture?
Pain is usually severe enough to require an emergency room visit. If the fracture is caused by a stress fracture, over time, then symptoms may be far more vague. There may be some pain, increasing throughout the day, often described as being dull and achy.
Do you need a cast for a fractured heel?
Your doctor may recommend nonsurgical treatment if the pieces of broken bone have not been displaced by the force of the injury. Immobilization. A cast, splint, or brace will hold the bones in your foot in proper position while they heal. You may have to wear a cast for 6 to 8 weeks — or possibly longer.
Is a calcaneus fracture serious?
Calcaneus fractures can be quite severe. Treatment often involves surgery to reconstruct the normal anatomy of the heel and restore mobility so that patients can return to normal activity.
Can you fully recover from a calcaneus fracture?
If your injury is minor, such as a crack in the bone with little muscle damage, you may be able to resume normal activities 3 to 4 months after surgery. If your fracture is severe, however, it may take 1 to 2 years before recovery is complete.
How long is calcaneus surgery recovery?
Expect a lengthy recovery after calcaneus fracture surgery. You will be given a splint or cast. You should not put weight on your foot for at least 6-8 weeks until there is sufficient healing of the fracture. The foot remains very stiff and some permanent loss of motion should be expected.
How do you fix a broken calcaneus?
In a classic “open” procedure, your surgeon will make an incision over your heel. The incision is likened to a hockey stick or large “L” where the overlying nerve and tendons are moved out of the way. The fracture fragments are restored to the best possible position and a plate and screws hold the fragments in place.
Does a broken heel need a cast?
No, some broken heels will not require a cast as long as you can keep your weight off of it. Bigger heel breaks will require a cast or boot to make sure the bones don’t shift from your weight being on the broken heel.
How serious is a calcaneus fracture?
Do heel fractures require surgery?
The calcaneus is the heel bone. Fractures or breaks of the calcaneus commonly occur after a fall from a height or car accident. Treatment of these fractures may require surgery. The goal of heel fracture surgery is to restore the shape of the heel bone as close to normal as possible.
What is a calcaneus fracture of the heel?
Calcaneus (Heel Bone) Fractures A fracture of the calcaneus, or heel bone, can be a painful and disabling injury. This type of fracture commonly occurs during a high-energy event—such as a car crash or a fall from a ladder—when the heel is crushed under the weight of the body. When this occurs, the heel can widen, shorten, and become deformed.
What happens if you fracture your heel bone?
A fracture may cause the heel bone to widen and shorten. In some cases, a fracture may also enter the subtalar joint in the foot. When this occurs, damage to the articular cartilage covering the joint may cause long-term complications such as chronic pain, arthritis, and loss of motion. Severity
What are the different types of heel fractures?
Intra-articular fractures. These involve damage to the cartilage between the joints and are considered the most serious type of heel fracture. Avulsion fractures. A sliver of bone is split off from the calcaneus due to pulling from the Achilles tendon or another ligament.
How is a fractured heel bone treated?
This is a minimally-invasive surgical technique that can be performed on some fractures (less than 10%). The surgeon makes a small incision and pierces the pieces of broken bones with a surgical wire. The surgeon can then manipulate the bone fragments into normal alignment. Surgical correction of a fractured heel bone is a risky procedure.