Calcaneus Fractures

Calcaneus fractures affect active people who run, play sports, or work physically demanding jobs. Though painful, with intervention and treatment, these fractures can be managed and kept from getting worse. At Austin Foot & Ankle Institute, in Austin, Lakeway and Cedar Park, Texas, board-certified orthopedic surgeons Pedro Cosculluela, MD and Andrew M. Ebert, MD, provide operative and non-operative treatment for calcaneus fractures. Dr. Cosculluela and Dr. Ebert can help you feel better using minimally invasive procedures. Call the nearest office to request treatment for a calcaneus fracture today, or make an appointment online.

What are calcaneus fractures?

A calcaneus fracture is a break that occurs in your heel bone (calcaneus). These fractures can be divided into two groups, traumatic fractures and stress fractures. Both of these require treatment that is tailored to the fracture pattern and severity.

What are the symptoms of calcaneus fractures?

Symptoms of calcaneus fractures include:

• Pain near the back of the foot
• Bruising
• Swelling
• Heel deformity
• Inability to stand up or put weight on the heel

Minor calcaneus fractures don’t always cause mobility problems right away. At first, you may only need to limp or change the way you walk. 

Should I see an orthopedic specialist about a calcaneus fracture?

Make an appointment at Austin Foot & Ankle Institute if you have heel pain, swelling and difficulty walking after an injury or recent changes in exercise patterns. This is true even if previous x-rays were negative as many calcaneus fractures are missed. 

How are calcaneus fractures diagnosed?

Your doctor will review your health charts and asks about your symptoms, including what the pain feels like, where it occurs, and if certain activities, like working, make it worse. 

Next, they examines your heel, calves, and ankle checking for redness, bruising, and swelling. They checks the pulse in your feet to ensure you have good circulation and asks you to move your toes, assessing your reflexes and mobility.

If no radiographs were done previously, x-rays of the foot and heel will be obtained during the visit. Last,  your doctor may order additional diagnostic imaging, like CT scans or MRI. These procedures capture detailed photos of your heel bone. They can identify the location and severity of your fracture and help guide treatment.

How are calcaneus fractures treated?

Treatment of a calcaneus fracture depends on its type, location, severity, and effect on your life.

Dr. Cosculluela and Dr. Ebert offer non-surgical and surgical treatment. They may recommend:

Immobilization

If you have a minor calcaneus fracture, they prescribe a cast or a splint. You wear the cast or splint for six to eight weeks while your bones heal. At the end of treatment, your doctor removes the cast and enrolls you in physical therapy.

Surgery

If you have a fracture that causes your heel bone to change position, Dr. Cosculluela and Dr. Ebert recommend surgical intervention. During surgery, they use special tools to change the shape of your heel bone, restoring its shape, size, and position.

Call the nearest Austin Foot & Ankle Institute office to receive treatment for a calcaneus fracture today, or make an appointment online.