Calcaneus fractures are painful and debilitating, but they are usually treated with surgery. As with any bone in your body, your heel bone, or calcaneus, can break.
There are several things you need to know about heel fractures, including the importance of treating them promptly.
Heel Bone Broken Symptoms
A heel bone can be broken near the subtalar joint. The subtalar joint allows the hindfoot to move from side to side. Despite the fact that the calcaneus can fracture without involving the joint, heel fractures at the subtalar joint are the most severe.
The most common cause of broken heel bones is high-energy trauma, such as:
- A fall from a height can result in injury
- Accident in a car
- Ankle twisting
Small chips or broken fragments of the bone often line the edges of the calcaneus caused by ankle-twisting fractures.
The following symptoms are often associated with broken heels:
- Pain
- Swelling
- Bruising
- Deformity
- Inability to bear weight
When the calcaneus is chipped or fragmented around the edges, the Achilles tendon, which attaches to the calcaneus, may be working to support the patient’s weight.
Generally, an unhealed heel fracture heals on its own, but podiatrists should promptly diagnose and treat the condition to prevent misalignment of the bones. Delaying treatment makes the condition more difficult to treat.
Talk to your orthopedic physician about your injury, outcomes goals, and postoperative symptoms after a calcaneus fracture.
You can contact our office at 949-588-8833, or visit our website at https://www.ocfootdoctor.com/ Our offices are located in Laguna Hills, Irvine, Mission Viejo, Aliso Viejo, Lake Forest, Foothill Ranch, and Costa Mesa.