Broken heel bone
A broken heel bone can result from an unfortunate fall. A fracture of the heel bone is very painful and takes several weeks of recovery. Are you curious about more information, such as how to treat it? Then feel free to read on. We are happy to explain.
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The cause of a fractured heel bone
Usually, a fracture of the heel bone is a result of a hard landing on the heel during a fall or jump. The risk of a heel bone fracture is therefore higher in sports such as long jump and gymnastics. Furthermore, the heel bone can also break due to a large pull of the Achilles tendon. This is called an avulsion fracture. In this, the tendon pulls a piece away from the bone. This happens when the calf muscles suddenly tighten forcefully. However, this is very rare.
Symptoms of a heel bone fracture
There are several symptoms you may experience with a fractured heel bone. We list the most common symptoms below:
- A sudden, stabbing pain
- Leaning on the heel and walking are impossible
- A swelling and discolouration of the skin around the heel
- You feel or hear a 'crack' when the bone fracture occurs in the front part of the heel bone
- Sometimes the heel of the foot is deformed (this causes shoe size to be incorrect and shoes may no longer fit)
- Stance deviation of the foot
Treatment of a fractured heel bone
Sometimes a heel bone fracture requires surgery to repair the bone pieces. Even if no surgery is needed, the foot goes into a plaster cast for 6 to 8 weeks. During this period, the foot should not be strained. In addition, it is wise to keep the foot elevated as much as possible. This reduces swelling and pain.
After the plaster cast is allowed to come off, the ankle will feel quite stiff. In this phase, it is important to get the joints flexible again and build up muscle strength. You do this by performing targeted exercises. You will be guided by a physiotherapist. Afterwards, you will notice that your foot gets stronger again.
