how to treat a broken calcaneus

This can be treated with bracing or surgery. Treatment focuses on restoring normal heel function and correcting any deformity.

Calcaneal Stress Fracture Upswing Health Upswing Health

Possible treatment options for calcaneus fractures The only person responsible to give you thorough advice about the possible calcaneus fracture treatment is your doctor.

. Treatment involves immobilization with a cast splint or brace for six to eight weeks. Irrespective of whether the injured foot is put in a cast or splint one must not put any weight on the foot until the bone is completely healed which takes six to eight weeks at the least or sometimes longer. Aside from pain-relieving treatment there are a number of rehabilitation tasks you must follow.

The right treatment will depend on the nature of. You should follow the at-home treatments recommended for non-surgical patients including rest ice elevation and compression. During the physical exam your doctor will check for points of tenderness in your foot.

Treatment of these fractures may require surgery. Fractures or breaks of the calcaneus commonly occur after a fall from a height or car accident. The doctor then places pins wires screws or metal plates to hold the bone pieces together.

While your broken calcaneus is healing you will not be able to put weight on your foot. Apply ice for 15 to 20 minutes every hour or as directed. This will include rest icing compression and elevation and immobilization.

The foot and ankle surgeon will discuss with the patient the best treatmentwhether surgical or nonsurgicalfor the fracture. The doctor makes an incision over your heel. Elevate your heel above the level of your heart as often as you can.

A cast or splint will be used to protect the fracture and hold the bones in their proper position. Recovery from Calcaneal Fracture Surgery. The calcaneus is the heel bone.

You will likely be immobilized in a well-padded splint. Additionally the tendons that pass along the outer border of the calcaneus can become damaged or irritated. Special screws are then inserted through small incisions to hold the fracture together.

Once the pain subsides with immobilization treatment it. Crutches are used to take. Calcaneus fractures can be quite severe.

This may be able to be treated surgically. The goal of heel fracture surgery is to restore the shape of the heel bone as close to normal as possible. Concentrating on reducing inflammation around the fracture site can also aid healing.

This will help decrease swelling and pain. You may be asked to walk for a short distance so that your doctor can examine your gait. Immobilization- Cast is applied over foot ankle and lower 23rd of the leg.

Ad Browse discover thousands of brands. Cover the bag with a towel before you place it on your heel. For good calcaneus fracture recovery one must take considerable care of the heel bone and not place any weight on it for approximately 10 weeks after surgery.

Treatment depends on the cause and severity of your injury. Cast helps to restrict and prevent movements of the fractured fragments of bones and ankle joint. Surgical treatment of calcaneus fractures usually involves making an incision over the outside of the foot and placing a metal plate and screws into the broken heel bone.

Getting Medical Treatment Download Article 1. For some fractures nonsurgical treatments may be used. Treatment for a calcaneus fracture.

They may move your foot into different positions to check your range of motion. He or she closes the skin incision with sutures. A fractured calcaneus or broken heel bone tends to be an extremely disabling injury.

Read customer reviews find best sellers. Calcaneus fracture recovery time varies from person to person. Calcaneus fractures may cause heel widening making it difficult to fit into a shoe.

He or she moves the bones back into place. Treatment often involves surgery to reconstruct the normal anatomy of the heel and restore mobility so that patients can return to normal activity. This form of treatment is usually done for nondisplaced Calcaneus fracture or displaced broken heel.

Immobilization with a cast can last 6-8 weeks or longer. The recovery time for severe or displaced and open fractures of calcaneus. Sometimes physical therapy is prescribed to help with motion and weight bearing once the bone heals.

See your doctor if you have symptoms of a broken heel. The precise location of your pain can help determine its cause. If you think you may have broken your heel call your doctor.

Use an ice pack or put crushed ice in a plastic bag. But even with appropriate treatment some fractures may result in long-term complications such as pain swelling loss of motion and arthritis. Consent to exams and tests to determine how severe the fracture is.

Treatment of calcaneal fractures is dictated by the type of fracture and extent of the injury. Restoration of normal alignment and contour is considered the best way to restore function. Low intensity pulsed ultrasound can speed up fracture repair and treatment can be done to the leg to reduce the effects of altered gait.

Nonsurgical treatment is possible if the pieces of the broken heel have not been displaced. Treatment of Calcaneal Fractures. How to treat calcaneus fractures Surgical treatment.

Your physician is going to propose a certain treatment after a careful physical examination and some diagnostics that will be ordered. The fixation stays in place and is not generally removed. Following surgery your foot and ankle specialist will likely immobilize your foot in a cast to allow the bone and joints time to heal.

Your healthcare provider will attempt to restore the normal alignment of the bone and return the cartilage surface as close to normal as possible. Apply ice to your heel to decrease swelling and pain.

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