Your feet have 26 bones, 33 joints, and over 100 ligaments, muscles, and tendons that help you stand upright and use your feet to walk or run. Self-diagnosing a foot injury is not easy because many cause similar symptoms.
At Annapolis Foot & Ankle Center and Chesapeake Amputation Prevention Center, our podiatrists evaluate and treat foot trauma of all kinds. We offer state-of-the-art diagnostic tools and treatments at our locations in Annapolis, Stevensville, and Glen Burnie. We’re proud to be Central Maryland’s top choice for complete podiatry care.
Understanding Foot Trauma
Foot trauma is physical damage to the soft or hard tissues in your feet. These structures are extremely complex, containing numerous bones, joints, muscles, ligaments, and tendons. Without all of them functioning properly, you might experience pain or have trouble standing or walking. No matter the type of foot trauma you have, you might experience:
- Pain
- Swelling
- Instability
- Bruising
- Deformity
Determining the cause of foot trauma can be challenging for patients due to the similarity in symptoms across different types of injuries. That's why at Annapolis Foot & Ankle Center, our knowledgeable podiatrists rely on their expertise and the latest imaging technologies, including X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs, to provide patients with a precise diagnosis.
Identifying Common Types of Foot and Ankle Trauma
Foot trauma occurs when you damage the bones, joints, or soft tissues in the foot or ankle. You’re particularly at risk of sustaining such injuries if you regularly play sports or have a job that requires you to work long hours on your feet. Even if you’re inactive, it’s possible to suffer a foot or ankle injury just walking around the house. Traumatic foot and ankle injuries can be broadly categorized into two groups: Hard tissue trauma and soft tissue trauma.
Hard Tissue Trauma
Fractures or breaks can happen in any of the 26 bones in your foot. Broken bones usually occur from a direct impact, like in a car accident or after a slip, trip, or fall. Even seemingly small fractures and breaks can cause immense pain and immobility.
Soft Tissue Trauma
Soft tissue trauma can affect ligaments, tendons, or muscles, with injuries ranging from overstretched to fully torn tissue. Sprains and strains, commonly caused by quick twists, pulls, repeated stress, or falls, are two of the most common types of foot trauma involving soft tissues.
Your Foot Trauma Treatment Options
The highly skilled experts at Annapolis Foot & Ankle Center and Chesapeake Amputation Prevention Center can diagnose and treat your traumatic podiatric injury and help you manage its symptoms.
After an injury, we often recommend utilizing the RICE (rest, ice, compression, and elevation) method. This method, along with anti-inflammatory medications, are particularly effective tools for managing mild to moderate soft tissue injuries.
More severe injuries might need clinical care. After evaluating the damage and making a diagnosis, we’ll create a personalized treatment plan to help you get back on your feet. Your plan may include various home care, as well as wearing a cast or walking boot as you heal. Severe fractures and soft tissue tears sometimes need surgery to repair damage and realign bone fragments.
Other treatments, like physical therapy, can help you make a full recovery and retain your foot and ankle mobility. Whatever the recovery process brings, you can count on our foot and ankle specialists to offer skilled care and guidance each and every step of the way.
Schedule an Urgent Appointment With a Central Maryland Foot Trauma Specialist
Are you experiencing sudden and immediate foot or ankle pain and swelling? Bypass the emergency room and be seen by an expert. Contact us to ask about the availability of a same-day appointment for urgent foot injuries.
