Healthscope Orthopaedics Services

Your ankles and feet are complex structures made up of bones, ligaments, muscles, and tendons. They enable smooth body weight transfer and help keep you stable, while allowing the flexibility to climb stairs, squat, jump and run.

The ankle and foot experience many stresses as you go about daily life. This can make them susceptible to arthritis. Foot and ankle injuries are another common cause of pain and movement limitation.

Our experienced orthopaedic surgeons are skilled in diagnosing and managing ankle and foot injuries. We offer world-class care, with a focus on tailoring treatment to your needs and lifestyle.

Common ankle and foot injuries

Some common injuries affecting the foot and ankle include:

Fractures

Fractures are broken bones. Foot and ankle fractures are usually caused by trauma, such as a sporting injury, fall from a height, or motor vehicle accident. They can also be caused by repetitive overload, particularly if activity is increased too rapidly. This is known as a stress fracture.

Ankle and foot fractures usually need urgent medical attention to reduce the risk of complications and help ensure the break heals well.
In the foot and ankle, fractures can affect the:

Tibia (shinbone) and fibula (smaller lower leg bone)

Calcaneus (heel bone)

Talus – a small bone that sits between the tibia, fibula and heel bone

Bones in the middle of the foot – which is known as a Lisfranc injury

Bones in the front of the foot and toes (metatarsals and phalanges).

Ankle dislocation

A dislocation occurs when bones are pushed out of alignment. This usually only happens in the ankle when bones are broken, but occasionally occurs without other bony damage. Dislocations require urgent medical treatment. Lisfranc injuries can also cause bones in the midfoot to dislocate.

Foot and ankle ligament injuries

Ankle ligament sprains are one of the most common of all injuries and can range from small tears to complete ruptures.

About 90% of ankle sprains are caused by the foot rolling inward, which is called an inversion injury. This overstretches ligaments on the outside of the ankle. If the ankle rolls outwards, this can damage the ligament on the inside of the ankle. Lisfranc injuries can tear ligaments in the midfoot.

Ankle instability

Severe ligament injuries don’t always heal well. This can make the ankle joint loose, painful and prone to further injuries. This is known as ankle instability. An operation may be needed to restore stability and enable return to sporting activity.

Tendon injuries

Tendons attach muscles to bones. The tendons in the foot and ankle allow movement in various directions. Tendon injuries usually result from trauma, such as a rolled ankle, awkward landing from a fall, or sudden forceful movement. A common tendon injury in the ankle is an acute rupture of the Achilles tendon which requires urgent medical attention for appropriate management.

Like ligaments, tendons can be strained or completely torn. Tendons can also become irritated and inflamed from overuse, leading to tendonitis.

Sever's Disease

This condition involves inflammation of the heel growth plate in children, which can be painful. It tends to affect children and adolescents who are very active, often during growth spurts.

Other foot and ankle injuries

As complex structures, the foot and ankle can be affected by other injuries and problems, including bunions, hammer toes, claw foot and plantar fasciitis.

Foot and ankle injury diagnosis

To discover what’s causing your ankle or foot problem, your health professional will do different investigations depending on your injury. If you’ve had a fracture or dislocation, for example, the doctor will order imaging tests such as an X-ray, CT scan or MRI to check the extent of the damage.

They will also look for signs of injury to other tissues, such as nerves or blood vessels, which could be serious if not treated. An orthopaedic specialist will often be consulted to help make the diagnosis and decide on the best course of action.

If your injury is less severe or you’ve had symptoms for a while, your doctor will probably see you in their rooms. They will ask questions like how the injury happened and how it affects your daily life. They will look at your ankle and foot, checking for tenderness, swelling, pain, or walking difficulties.

Your doctor might refer you for imaging tests, along with blood or other laboratory tests. These can help provide a more complete picture of your ankle or foot injury. Your doctor might also refer you to an orthopaedic specialist for a review and opinion.

How are ankle and foot injuries treated?

Injuries affecting the feet and ankles come in a wide range of types and severities. This will affect how they’re managed.

Non-surgical management of foot and ankle injuries

Treatment aims to relieve pain, restore movement and help you get back to your usual activities.

Non-surgical treatments for ankle and foot injuries include:

Immobilisation – you might need to wear a brace, plaster cast or walking boot to keep the area still and protect it while it heals.

Walking aids – you may need to use crutches, a walking frame or knee scooter to keep weight off the injured foot or ankle.

Physiotherapy – to ease symptoms and treat underlying issues such as stiffness, muscle weakness or poor movement patterns.

Exercises – to improve flexibility, strength and movement control.

Medications – such as pain killers and anti-inflammatories.

Heat or cold therapy – to reduce inflammation and ease pain.

Corticosteroid injections – to reduce pain and inflammation.

Surgery for foot and ankle injuries

Some ankle and foot injuries need surgery to repair or replace damaged tissues and help ensure you have the best chance of making a good recovery. Your specialist might also recommend surgery if other treatment options haven’t settled your symptoms.

Surgery can often be performed arthroscopically (through keyholes using a special camera and instruments), but some procedures need to be done in the traditional manner.

Your orthopaedic surgeon can discuss your options with you and provide guidance about the best course of action in your situation.

Surgeries used to manage foot and ankle injuries include:

Repairs

Fractures and dislocations are often managed by repairing damaged bones with pins, plates or screws. Ruptured tendons may also need to be repaired surgically.

Reconstruction

Torn ligaments may be surgically reconstructed to improve ankle stability and enable return to sport.

Other procedures

Your surgeon might perform a procedure to trim away damaged tissues or remove debris from the joint.

How long does it take to recover from a foot or ankle injury?

Recovery time will vary depending on the injury type and severity, as well as factors like your age and lifestyle. For example, a mild ligament sprain could be better in about six weeks, whereas it could take a year or more to recover from a serious ankle fracture.

Many people will need physiotherapy and rehabilitation after a foot or ankle injury or surgery to restore movement, function and the ability to do things like drive, work and participate in sports or hobbies.

Your orthopaedic surgeon can provide individual advice about how long it could take to recover from your injury.