An avulsion fracture occurs when an overly stressed tendon or ligament breaks from its attachment point on the bone and pulls a small piece of bone along with it. Younger athletes are more susceptible to this type of injury since their bones aren’t fully developed and are more fragile. It is also a common injury in dancers where a break in the fifth metatarsal, which is the bone that supports the littlest toe, occurs. Avulsion fractures of this type may require toe surgery to reattach the tendon.

The symptoms and signs of a foot or ankle fracture may include the following:

• Immediate, intense pain and you can’t put weight on your foot
• Protruding bones
• Swelling, bruising, and bleeding
• For stress fractures, pain that increases or decreases in response to your activity level
• Taking your shoes on and off is difficult due to pain and swelling

See your foot doctor right away if you experience any of the severe symptoms listed above.

After the initial healing period of many months, you will need to slowly incorporate physical therapy exercises to increase the strength and flexibility of the stiffened muscles and ligaments without causing another injury.

For assistance, in treating a foot or ankle fracture, your foot care professional can provide the best care. At Your Next Step, our team of board-certified podiatrists has access to advanced technologies, along with years of experience, to help diagnose and treat a variety of foot and ankle problems, including sports injuries, joint pain, toe deformities, nail fungus, chronic tendon pain, and skin problems. Dr. Eric Ricefield, Dr. Mark Yagodich and Dr. Aliza V. Eisen provide high-quality foot and ankle care to patients in the greater Philadelphia area at our offices conveniently located in Ardmore, Paoli, and Downingtown. Please contact us for more information or to schedule an appointment.