Foot Fractures

Foot Fractures

About 10% of all fractures occur in the foot. Luckily, most of these injuries can be treated without surgery and will heal fine with no further impact on your function. However, there are certain fractures that do require surgery. Dr. Kohring has extensive training in lower extremity fracture treatments and surgery. As a fellowship-trained, board-certified Orthopaedic Surgeon, her experience comes from advanced training during her residency and fellowship in the management and treatment of these complicated injuries. 

Calcaneus Fractures

Fractures of the calcaneus bone are relatively uncommon and compromise about 1 to 2% of all

fractures. These can be significant injuries, especially those that require surgery. Calcaneus fractures typically occur due to an axial load or downward pressure on the heel bone when someone falls from height or is involved in a motor vehicle accident. These injuries lead to quite a bit of swelling and trauma to the skin and soft tissues. If surgery is required, it is often delayed 2 to 3 weeks to allow the skin to improve.

Example Fracture

Example Treatment

Midfoot Fractures

Fractures or injuries to the midfoot joints are even more uncommon at 0.2% of all fractures. A Lisfranc injury occurs when the ligaments connecting the metatarsal bones to the tarsal bones (cuneiforms and cuboids) are injured leading to dislocation and fractures of the bones and the tarsometatarsal (TMT) joints. These injuries are on a spectrum of severity and are treated based on the specific pattern of injury. They tend to occur in higher-energy injuries including in athletes, motor vehicle collisions, and falls.

EXAMPLE MIDFOOT INJURIES

Ligamentous Lisfranc Dislocation

Widening occurs between the medial cuneiform and base of the 2nd metatarsal. 

Midfoot (Homolateral Lisfranc) Fracture-Dislocation

All of the metatarsal shift off of the tarsal bones, in this case laterally or to the outside of the foot.