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In rare cases, a hairline fracture can be severe enough to warrant surgery if it does not heal on its own. However, when strain is continuously placed upon a bone, over time, microscopic cracks, known as hairline or stress fractures, can develop. Returning to high-impact activities — especially the one that caused the injury in the first place — won’t only delay healing but increase the risk of a complete fracture in the bone.
Stress Fractures of the Metatarsal Bones
It sends extra blood to form a protective clot, and new bone cells develop around the break. A broken ankle is usually a result of a twisting injury, but can also be caused by a direct blow to the ankle. If you are diagnosed with a hairline fracture, it is important to rest the injured area to give the fracture a chance to heal. People don’t always realise at first that they have a hairline fracture.
Ankle Fracture Causes
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Hairline fractures usually develop gradually as a result of overuse, as opposed to larger bone fractures or breaks that are mostly caused by acute traumas, such as a fall. While hairline fractures may heal with sufficient rest, they can be painful and last several weeks. Can other conditions develop if hairline fractures aren’t treated? Ignoring the pain caused by a hairline fracture can actually result in the bone breaking completely. Complete breaks will take longer to heal and involve more complicated treatments. It’s important to seek out help from your doctor and treat a hairline fracture as soon as possible.
Understanding hairline fractures
They may increase your risk for another fracture in the same area, especially if you’re an athlete. While not all fractures are preventable, taking steps to reduce your risk can go a long way. After you take off your cast, you’ll be able to move your leg, but it may feel stiff and weak. Your doctor can recommend a physical therapist to help you regain strength and range of motion.
If both bones are damaged, you may have a hairline bimalleolar ankle fracture. Hairline or stress fractures are tiny cracks on a bone that often develop in the foot or lower leg. The most significant risk for a hairline fracture is playing high impact sports that involve repetitive jumping or running.
The difference between a hairline fracture and a sprain
That means we can fill out all the required forms, provide all the necessary documents, and let you focus on your recovery while we help you move your claim forward. A hairline or "stress" fracture to your ankle is a small crack or bruise within the bones that make up your ankle joint. Yes, hairline fractures can often heal on their own with proper rest and immobilization. The best way of diagnosing hairline fractures is MRI, though one can also choose an X-ray or other scanners. The best imaging test for a hairline fracture in the ankle involves magnetic and radio waves. These waves generate an image of the hairline fractured ankle, aiding in MRI diagnosis.
The multidisciplinary techniques for even the most difficult-to-treat fractures, including complex non-union fractures. In this blog, we'll explore the causes, symptoms, and treatment options for hairline fractures in the ankle, as well as tips for preventing this type of injury. The bones of the ankle are more prone to hairline fractures as they are susceptible to stress from jumping and running activities. The second and third metatarsals, or the long bones of the foot, are the most commonly affected. Unfortunately, many people go about their normal routines while having hairline ankle fractures because they can't feel the injury.
Joe Biden Foot Hairline Fracture: What It Is and How It's Treated
After discussing your symptoms and health history, your doctor will examine your foot and ankle. During the examination, they will look for areas of tenderness and apply gentle pressure directly to the injured bone. Often, the key to diagnosing a stress fracture is the patient's report of pain in response to this pressure. Pain from a stress fracture is typically limited to the area directly over the injured bone and is not generalized over the whole foot. Treatment of this injury can sometimes require a cast and a period of non-weightbearing for a few weeks.
Identifying and Treating Hairline Fractures
The most common cause of stress fractures is a sudden increase in physical activity. This increase can be in the frequency of activity — such as exercising more days per week. It can also be in the duration or intensity of activity — such as running longer distances or repetitive high-impact activities following weight gain. Hairline fractures, also referred to as stress fractures are now slowly becoming an infamous dilemma in the area of sports medicine. It is caused by the application of repetitive strain and excessive training. Hairline Fractures are minute cracks on the bones, which can become severe if not treated immediately.
As a result, you may confuse the two, making it necessary to consult a medical specialist to diagnose the problem and offer the most appropriate remedy. Broken ankles, or ankle fractures, are one of the most common causes of ankle pain. It can take weeks or months for you to recover from an ankle fracture. During that time, switch to activities that place less stress on your foot and leg. However, you should not resume any type of physical activity that involves your injured foot or ankle — even if it is low impact — without your doctor's approval. Bones have a certain degree of flexibility, which allows them to absorb some of the impact of activities like running, jumping or walking.
Doctors think of the ankle as having three sides and a "roof," and fractures can occur in each of these areas or in combination. An ankle stress fracture usually occurs some time after a person begins a new activity that involves significant impact of the foot, such as hiking, running or field sports. It’s important to avoid high-impact activities during the healing process. Returning to high-impact activities — especially the activity that caused the injury in the first place — will delay healing and increase the risk of a complete fracture in the bone.
Because it usually takes up to six to eight weeks to completely heal from a hairline fracture, it’s important to modify your activities during that time. Cycling and swimming are great alternatives to more high-impact exercises. During recovery, your doctor will schedule follow-up X-rays to make sure your bones are healing properly. Follow the activities outlined by your physical therapist and doctor to encourage recovery. Whether closed or open, after your doctor aligns your bones, they’ll place your leg in a cast or splint.
You can have an ankle sprain because you have a broken ankle, but a sprained ankle won't cause your ankle to break. The goal of treatment is to relieve pain and allow the fracture to heal so you can return to your activities. Following your doctor's treatment plan will help you return to activities faster and prevent further damage to the bone. If you’re suffering from an ankle fracture, chances are you want to know how long it will be before you’re back on your feet. The truth is that the healing process and recovery depend on the nature of your fracture, your overall health, and other factors. You may experience a broken ankle from a twisting injury from a simple misstep or fall, or from direct trauma during a car crash, for example.
Ankle fractures are treated with surgery called open reduction internal fixation (ORIF). In ORIF, surgeons open up your injured ankle and line up the ends of your broken bones. They might also install metal plates, wires or screws to keep your ankle bones stable while the bones heal.
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