Calcaneal fracture
| Calcaneal fracture | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Heel bone fracture, lover's fracture, Don Juan fracture |
| X-ray of a fractured calcaneus | |
| Specialty | Orthopedics, emergency medicine |
| Symptoms | Pain, bruising, trouble walking, deformity of the heel |
| Complications | Arthritis, decreased range of motion of the foot |
| Causes | Landing on the feet following a fall from a height, motor vehicle collision |
| Diagnostic method | Based on symptoms, X-rays, CT scan |
| Treatment | Casting, surgery |
| Medication | NSAIDs, opioids |
| Prognosis | 3 month to 2 year recovery |
| Frequency | ~2% of fractures |
A calcaneal fracture is a break of the calcaneus (heel bone). Symptoms may include pain, bruising, trouble walking, and deformity of the heel. It may be associated with breaks of the hip or back.
It usually occurs when a person lands on their feet following a fall from a height or during a motor vehicle collision. Diagnosis is suspected based on symptoms and confirmed by X-rays or CT scanning.
If the bones remain normally aligned treatment may be by casting without weight bearing for around eight weeks. If the bones are not properly aligned surgery is generally required. Returning the bones to their normal position results in better outcomes. Surgery may be delayed a few days as long as the skin remained intact.
About 2% of all fractures are calcaneal fractures. However, they make up 60% of fractures of the mid foot bones. Undisplaced fractures may heal in around three months while more significant fractures can take two years. Difficulties such as arthritis and decreased range of motion of the foot may remain.