First Aid Essentials Slideshow Take the Trauma and First Aid Quiz First Aid Sprains & Strains Slideshow Pictures First Aid Essentials Slideshow Patient Comments: Broken Foot - CausePatient Comments: Broken Foot - SymptomsPatient Comments: Broken Foot - DiagnosisPatient Comments: Broken Foot - TreatmentPatient Comments: Broken Foot - ComplicationsFind a local Doctor in your town Broken foot definition and facts How many bones are in the foot? What are the causes of a broken foot? What are the signs and symptoms of a broken foot? What are the signs and symptoms of a broken foot in an infant or toddler? When should I call the doctor for foot pain? How can I tell if I have a broken bone in my foot? What can you do for a broken foot (treatment)? What is the healing and recovery time for a broken foot? What are the complications of a broken foot? Can a broken foot be prevented? Broken bones are painful, especially when they are weight bearing.
signs and symptoms of a broken bone in the foot include: Walking may be too painful Other signs and symptoms of a broken foot include: Joint dislocation: If the bones are significantly displaced (the bone alignment has been lost or there is an associated joint dislocation) a deformity of the foot may be apparent. People with existing diseases or conditions: with altered pain sensation due to peripheral neuropathy (persons with diabetes are a classic example), pain may not be present, and the fracture may be missed initially. may occur in persons withBruising, swelling, and deformity may be the only clues to a potential fracture. Infants and toddlers may ignore the pain of injury and when they see a health-care professional. They may refuse to bear weight on their leg. The child may sit comfortably on the parent's lap without complaint until asked or made to stand. Most of the bones in the foot will eventually heal with rest, but some fractures may need surgery to repair.
Often, it is the mechanism of injury associated with the intensity of pain that makes the patient seek care. It is appropriate to seek medical care if the patient cannot walk normally Medical care should be accessed immediately if an injury to the foot also "open fracture", previously named "compound fracture," describes a that is associated with a break in the skin. Open fractures pose a significant risk for major infection of the bone. Other reasons to seek care include: Numbness or tingling in the toes, which may be an indication of nerve cool and white toot, which may signal artery damage and decreased blood supply A broken foot is diagnosed by the health-care practitioner taking a history of how the injury occurred. The mechanism of injury will give clues as to what type of injury may exist and importantly, what other associated injuries may also be potentially present. It is helpful to know how much time has passed from when the injury occurred to when the patient presents for care.
Past medical history is important; those with diabetes or other conditions that suppress the immune system are at greater risk for infection with foot injuries.Inspection of the foot for swelling, bruising, deformities and open wounds.Palpation allows the health care professional to feel where the pain is located. This is very helpful if X-rays are taken, since it allows the health care professional to correlate areas of tenderness with the anatomy seen on the X-Ray. (This is particularly important in children whose bones may not have yet calcified. Fractures may be easily missed since they occur through cartilage instead of bone.)An exam of the circulatory system, feeling for pulses, and assessing how quickly blood returns to the tip of a toe after it is pressed and the toe turns white (capillary refill).A neurologic exam, assessing sensation such as light touch and pin prick sensationsMotor function, asking the patient to move the injured area. This assists in assessing muscle and tendon function.
The ability to move the foot means only that the muscles and tendons work, and does not guarantee bone integrity or stability. The concept that "it can't be broken because I can move it" is not correct.A range of motion exam of the foot may be helpful in assessing ligament stability. However, if the fracture is obvious, the health care practitioner may choose to keep the foot immobilized to prevent further pain. X-rays are often taken to evaluate the status of the bones in the foot and to check for fracture. Usually three views are taken to help the health care professional and radiologist adequately view the bones. Special views may be taken if there is concern for a fracture of the calcaneus. X-rays may not be taken for simple toe injuries, since the result may not affect the treatment plan. For some foot fractures, X-rays may not be adequate to visualize the injury. This is often true for metatarsal stress fractures, where bone scans may be used if the history and physical examination suggest a potential fracture, but the plain X-rays are normal.
Computerized tomography (CT) may be used to assess fractures of the calcaneus and talus, since it may better be able to illustrate the anatomy of the ankle and midfoot joint and potential associated injuries. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be used in some cases of foot fractures. The Lisfranc joint describes the connection between the first, second, and third metatarsals and the three cuneiform bones. A Lisfranc fracture dislocation often requires a CT scan to evaluate this region of the foot. While X-rays may hint at the damage in this type of injury, the CT can delineate the numerous bones and joints that may be damaged. Medically Reviewed by a Doctor on Next: What can you do for a broken foot (treatment)?A zoonotic disease is a disease that can be passed from animals to humans. It is important to remember that the best way to protect yourself is to practice good hygiene. Hantavirus cases are rare in this country, but, since 1993, there have been 18 cases in Oregon.
The state’s first case, reported in 1994, was a northwestern Oregon man who died from the disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, hantavirus pulmonary syndrome is a rare but serious respiratory infection that can be life threatening. Humans can become infected by inhaling dust contaminated by droppings, urine or saliva from infected rodents. Hantavirus can also be transmitted through bites from infected rodents or from direct contact with rodent excretions, followed by touching the mouth or nose prior to hand washing. It takes approximately two weeks for symptoms to appear, but can range from a few days to six weeks. Symptoms can be similar to some types of pneumonia or common respiratory viruses like influenza, and may include fever, headache, muscle aches, nausea and vomiting. The deer mouse is the most common rodent carrier of hantavirus. Rodents that carry hantavirus are generally found in rural and sometimes suburban areas. The common house mouse does not spread the virus.
The deer mouse is tan or brown in color with white hair on the underbelly, while the typical house mouse is gray. Since 1994, over 500 cases of hantavirus have been reported in more than half the states in the U.S. Cases often occur in the spring after spring-cleaning in homes and businesses. Hantavirus is not spread from person-to-person, nor is it spread among domesticated animals, nor from domesticated animals to humans. To minimize the risk of hantavirus you should: Avoid contact with wild rodents. Keep rodents away from buildings by keeping lawns mowed and homes free of debris and trash. Wood piles should be at least 12 inches off the ground. Make sure rodents don’t have access to food, water or nesting sites. Keep food scraps and garbage in rodent-proof metal or thick plastic containers with tight-fitting lids. Do not allow pet or animal food to sit out. Keep rodents out of buildings by using steel screens, caulk or weather stripping to seal holes or gaps around the house and garage doors.
If openings near pipes and electrical wiring are present, seal with steel wool. If rodents are present, use snap traps with peanut butter mixed with oats as effective bait. Air out rodent infested places at least 30 minutes BEFORE cleanup. Consider the following preventive steps before cleaning out possible rodent-infested areas: Do not sweep, brush or vacuum which will stir up dust. Protect yourself by wearing a particulate respirator face mask and use rubber, latex, vinyl, or nitrile disposable gloves. Spray the droppings or nests with a bleach solution or household disinfectant. (Mix 1 1/2 cups of household bleach in 1 gallon of water.) Leave solution on area for about 10 minutes. Once everything is wet, wipe up the debris with a damp paper towel, and then mop the area with the bleach solution. Thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water (or waterless alcohol-based hand cleaners when soap and water is not available). Seal all refuse in double plastic bags, and dispose of this, and personal protection equipment, in an appropriate waste disposal system.
For more information, visit the Oregon Public Health Division Web site. While rare, there have been six cases of plague in humans in Oregon since 1995. Plague can be passed from fleas feeding on infected wild mammals to pets such as cats and to their human owners. People can protect themselves, their family members and their pets by using flea treatments on your pets to prevent them from bringing fleas into your home. Symptoms of plague typically develop within one to four days after exposure and include fever, chills, headache, weakness and a bloody or watery cough due to infection. Three clinical syndromes have been described; bubonic (lymph node infection), septicemic (blood infection), and pneumonic (lung infection). Bubonic plague is the most common form and is characterized by high temperatures, lethargy and swollen lymph nodes, most commonly in the neck and under the jaw. Infected lymph nodes may spontaneously abscess and drain. People should contact their health care provider if plague is suspected and a veterinarian if pets or other animals exhibit symptoms consistent with the plague.
Early treatment for pets and people with appropriate antibiotics is essential to curing plague infections. Untreated plague can be fatal for animals and people. Antibiotics to prevent or treat plague should be used only under the direction of a health care provider. Health authorities offer the following recommendations to prevent plague: Avoid sick or dead rodents, rabbits and squirrels, and their nests and burrows. Keep your pets from roaming and hunting. Talk to your veterinarian about using an appropriate flea control product on your pets. Clean up areas near the house where rodents could live, such as woodpiles, brush piles, junk and abandoned vehicles. Sick pets should be examined promptly by a veterinarian. See your doctor about any unexplained illness involving a sudden and severe fever. Put hay, wood, and compost piles as far as possible from your home. Don’t leave your pet’s food and water where mice can get to it. Veterinarians and their staff are at higher risk and should take precautions when seeing suspect animal plague cases.