Fracture Specialist

What are fractures?

A fracture is a break in your bone. At Water Oak Foot and Ankle Surgery, Dr. McCabe specializes in fractures of the feet and ankles. Fractures in this area can range from mild to severe, with some general categories being:

Simple fractures

A simple fracture is a bone break that either partially or completely transects the bone without displacing it. Simple fractures can occur in any foot or ankle bones.

Compound fractures

A compound fracture is a bone break that completely transects the bone and then significantly displaces it. In severe cases, a compound fracture could pierce your skin. These fractures generally require surgery.

Stress fractures

Stress fractures are actually breaks in the bone. While simple and compound fractures occur with trauma, a stress fracture develops with long-term repetitive impact.

Stress fractures often occur in the sesamoids, midfoot and metatarsal bones. You can also get a stress fracture to the bones of the ankle and calcaneus (heel bone). It is common to not be able to see stress fracture on x-ray for at least 2 weeks.

What are the symptoms of bone fractures?

Foot and ankle fractures can cause symptoms that include:

• Soreness or pain in the ankle, toe, midfoot, or heel
• Difficulty bearing weight
• Swelling
• Bruising
• Instability

A severe fracture may look like an ankle and foot deformity. Generally, simple and compound fractures cause more obvious symptoms than stress fractures.

What causes foot and ankle fractures?

Foot and ankle fractures happen in a number of ways, with sports injuries being especially common. You can also fracture your foot or ankle with a misstep or constant overuse. Older adults often experience fractures more frequently as a result of bone weakening from osteoporosis.

What does treatment for fractures involve?

At Water Oak Foot and Ankle Surgery, Dr. McCabe determines which kind of fracture you have and the extent of the damage to formulate treatment options for you. He explains all of your alternatives and the expected results of each option to help you decide which approach is right for you.

In some cases, nonsurgical care can heal your fracture. This may include immobilization with a cast or boot, rest, physical therapy, and other conservative measures. If you have a serious compound fracture, surgery may be the best route to recovery. Dr. McCabe is a fellowship-trained surgeon with considerable experience in all types of surgical fracture repair.

For a broken bone in your foot or ankle, trust the leading surgeon in the area. Call Water Oak Foot and Ankle Surgery or click the online scheduler now.