Fractures (Foot & Ankle)
Alignment is everything. Millimeters here decide how the joint ages.
Overview
Understanding fractures (foot & ankle)
The ankle is an exacting joint: displacement measured in millimeters changes how force crosses the cartilage, which is why fracture care here is fundamentally about restoring exact alignment. Some fractures are stable and heal beautifully in a boot; others shift the joint and need fixation to protect its future.
Foot fractures — metatarsals, the midfoot's Lisfranc pattern, stress fractures in athletes — carry their own decision rules, including a handful of famous "don't miss" injuries that hide on first X-rays.
Symptoms
What it feels like
- Immediate pain and swelling after a twist, fall, or impact
- Inability or reluctance to bear weight
- Deformity or instability of the ankle
- Midfoot bruising on the sole — a classic Lisfranc warning sign
- Focal bone pain that builds with training (stress fracture)
Common causes
Why it happens
- Rotational injuries — the ankle fracture mechanism
- Falls, sports collisions, and vehicle injuries
- Repetitive loading (stress fractures)
- Bone-density conditions that lower the fracture threshold
Diagnosis
How it's diagnosed
X-rays classify the pattern; stress views test hidden instability; CT maps joint-surface fractures for surgical planning; MRI finds the stress fractures and Lisfranc injuries plain films miss. The organizing question is always the same — is the joint aligned and stable, or not?
Treatment
The full range of options
Non-surgical
Boot or cast management
Stable, well-aligned fractures heal reliably with protection and staged weight bearing, monitored with follow-up imaging to confirm nothing shifts.
Stress fracture programs
Offloading, addressing the training and metabolic drivers, and a graduated return that prevents recurrence.
Surgical
Open reduction & internal fixation
Plates and screws restore exact joint alignment for unstable ankle fractures and displaced joint-surface injuries — the millimeters that protect against post-traumatic arthritis.
Lisfranc stabilization
Midfoot ligament injuries are stabilized to prevent the arch collapse and arthritis that follow missed injuries.
Recovery
The road back
Most ankle fractures follow a six-to-twelve-week arc from protection to progressive weight bearing, with swelling as the long tail — it commonly persists for months and is normal. Return to impact sport typically lands between three and six months depending on the pattern.
Dr. Johnson's approach
Dr. Johnson's fracture care is alignment-obsessed by design: honest triage of what truly needs surgery, precise fixation when it does, and follow-through until the bone — and the athlete — are genuinely ready.
Straight answers
Frequently Asked Questions
The information on this site is for education only and is not a medical diagnosis or a substitute for professional medical advice. Every patient is different — please consult Dr. Johnson or a qualified provider about your specific condition.
Ready when you are
Take the first step past fractures (foot & ankle)
A focused evaluation, an honest conversation, and a plan built for your goals.