When you get a fracture in the foot, you may notice instant pain, deformity, bruising, difficulty in walking or bearing weight, and/or swelling in the area. These symptoms may seem negligible, but they require the immediate treatment of a foot doctor. Leaving your foot fracture untreated can lead to complications, some of which are irreversible and have the potential to greatly diminish your quality of life. Let’s talk about some of the possible complications of an untreated foot fracture and where to get prompt, high-quality treatment for it in Cincinnati, OH.

Delayed Healing or Nonhealing

When you break any of the bones in your feet, they can start rebuilding immediately after your doctor performs foot surgery to reposition them or stabilize them into place. Otherwise, they can result in either a delayed union or nonunion, the former means delayed healing and the latter not healing at all.

Delayed unions happen when your bones take a longer time to heal than usual. You can still make a full recovery, albeit there can be complications, depending on how well your bone was set.

In the case of a nonunion, the fracture remains as it is, and the symptoms such as pain, limping, swelling, and tenderness tends to worsen over time.

Problems in Surrounding Muscles and Ligaments

A fracture in the foot that doesn’t receive proper treatment can also stress the surrounding muscles and ligaments. You will likely experience pain, weakness, muscle spasms, and bruises when this happens.

Infections

Foot fractures do not necessarily lead to infections; if they do, they may require prolonged and complicated treatment.

Infections resulting from untreated foot fractures typically cause severe pain, redness, swelling, and warmth. A pus pocket may also form, and if it bursts, it may result in wound drainage. When you have an infected foot fracture, you may also experience fever, chills, and night sweats.

Fracture Blisters

While relatively uncommon, fracture blisters can develop on or around areas where your skin adheres tightly to your bone with little fat cushioning, such as your foot. The blister usually appears like a second-degree burn.

Permanent Deformity

Improper healing of a bone fracture can cause foot misalignment, which eventually leads to long-term deformity and shortening of the bone—a condition referred to as a malunion.

Permanent Nerve Damage

You have 7,000 nerve endings in each of your feet. An untreated foot fracture can cause permanent damage to any of these nerves, causing problems such as tingling sensation, difficulty controlling movement, and reduced sensitivity that may no longer subside.

Foot Fracture Treatment in Cincinnati, OH

Your feet are the foundation of your mobility. Therefore, if you sustain a fracture in your foot, see a doctor right away, even if you think you can do without medical intervention.

At Cincinnati Foot & Ankle Care, our board-certified, highly trained foot doctors use cutting-edge treatment methods to address all problems of the foot and ankle, so you can get back on your feet in no time.

If you want to book an appointment with one of our foot doctors at Cincinnati Foot & Ankle Care, call one of our offices nearest you or use our online request form.