Occurrences can also vary greatly, since breaks can happen during traumatic accidents, minor missteps or overuse, in which you may not even be aware your foot or ankle is fractured. If you suspect any level of break in your foot or ankle, it is important to consult a doctor. While you may simply need a brace to allow healing of a small fracture, more serious breaks can require surgery or the need for plates, rods, or screws to aid in proper healing.

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Symptoms of a broken bone in your ankle or foot can range from throbbing pain to minor discomfort that improves when you rest the limb. There may be swelling, bruising and tenderness where bruising is evident. If your foot or ankle appears to be deformed, this is a good indication there is a break. Swelling or bruising that lingers for several days may indicate a hairline fracture.

 

Stress fractures that result from overuse and/or participation in high impact sports or excessive training can be especially difficult to identify, as some foot or ankle discomfort can be a common occurrence for an athlete during training. Click here for more details about Stress Fractures. Click here for more details about athletic foot and ankle injuries.

 

Timely diagnosis of broken bones in the foot and ankle is encouraged to avoid the complications associated with delays and poor healing, including arthritis, infection and nerve damage.