How long for calcaneus fracture to heal

Percutaneous screw fixation. If the bone pieces are large, they can sometimes be moved back into place without making a large incision. Special screws are then inserted through small incisions to hold the fracture together. Left A displaced fracture of the calcaneus. Right The fracture has been reduced and the bones held in place with screws. Open reduction and internal fixation. During this operation, an open incision is made to reposition reduce the bones into their normal alignment. They are held together with wires or metal plates and screws.

In this x-ray, the bone fragments have been realigned and held in place with metal plates and screws. Bones have a remarkable capacity to heal. The more severe your injury, however, the longer your recovery may be. Patients with more severe fractures are also more likely to suffer some degree of permanent loss of function, regardless of treatment.

Whether your treatment is surgical or nonsurgical, your rehabilitation will be very similar. The time it takes to return to daily activities will vary depending on the type and severity of the fracture and whether you have other injuries.

Some patients can begin weight-bearing activities a few weeks after injury or surgery; others may need to wait 3 months or more before putting weight on the heel.

Most patients are able to begin partial weight bearing between 6 and 10 weeks after injury or surgery. Early motion. Many providers encourage motion of the foot and ankle early in the recovery period. For example, you may be instructed to begin moving the affected area as soon as your pain allows. Physical therapy. Specific exercises can help improve the range of motion in your foot and ankle, and strengthen supporting muscles.

Although they are often painful at the beginning and progress may be difficult, exercises are required in order for you to resume normal activities. Weight bearing. It is very important to follow your provider's instructions for walking on your foot. If you put weight on your foot too soon, the bone pieces may move out of place and you might require surgery. If you have had surgery, the screws might loosen or break and the bone may collapse.

This may not occur the first time you walk on it but, if the bone is not healed and you continue to bear weight, the metal will eventually break. If the bones have shifted out of place displaced , you may need surgery. Our orthopedic trauma surgeons at Emory use these surgical options to treat calcaneus fractures:. Whether you have surgery or not, your rehabilitation will be very similar.

How long it takes to return to daily activities varies with different types of fractures. It depends on the severity of the injury.

Some patients can begin weight-bearing activities a few weeks after injury or surgery; some patients may need to wait 3 or more months before putting any kind of weight on the heel. Our trauma specialists will help determine the best plan for your fracture. The talus is a small bone that sits between the heel bone calcaneus and the two bones of the lower leg tibia and fibula. Most injuries to the talus result from motor vehicle accidents, although falls from heights also can injure the talus.

A talar fracture that is left untreated or that doesn't heal properly will create problems for you later. We can give you some general guidelines for recovery time for heel fractures , but every situation is different.

When a bone is broken, the associated blood vessels bleed and clot, which leads to inflammation. This necessary clotting forms the basis for bone repair. The clotted blood is slowly replaced by tissue fibers and cartilage, which in turn gradually hardens into bone tissue that can be seen on x-rays. In kids, this process is quicker because they are still building bone faster than it breaks down, but in adults, bones are already losing more cells than they gain, so healing takes longer.