Foot and ankle trauma could involve a fracture, dislocation, ruptured ligament, or open wound. If you suffer a trauma that doesn’t require hospital treatment, Jason Cohen, DPM, and Sandeep Garcha, DPM, of Cohen & Garcha Podiatry, LLP, can help. They provide urgent appointments to assess and treat your trauma and promote your recovery. The practice has six offices in New York City’s Bronx borough, one in Jamaica, Queens, and another in Nanuet.
Several kinds of trauma can affect your feet and ankles:
Fractures
Some acute fractures can be clean breaks in the bones, called simple fractures. Others involve several breaks (comminuted fractures) or breaks where you can see the bone (compound fractures). Feet are also likely to suffer crush injuries where the bones and soft tissues suffer widespread damage.
Dislocations
Dislocations are a common problem in ankles. They happen when the bones that make up the joint separate under stress, causing a painful misalignment.
Sprains and strains
Sprains (injuries to ligaments) and strains (injuries to tendons) are also common ankle problems. While some sprains and strains only involve a mild stretching of the tissues, others result in severe tears or complete ruptures.
You could also experience traumas like partial amputation, deep cuts, puncture wounds, burns, and scalds.
If you injure your foot or ankle, follow basic first aid steps for the injury. For example, a sprain or strain needs rest, ice packs, and a support bandage. You should also lie down and raise your leg higher than your head whenever possible. Burns and scalds need to be kept wet, and if you’re bleeding, try to stop the blood flow.
Depending on how severe your trauma is, you might need to go to a hospital emergency room or get an urgent appointment at Cohen & Garcha Podiatry, LLP. The treatment you need for your foot or ankle trauma depends on the nature of your injury and how bad it is.
Wounds need careful cleaning to make sure there are no bacteria or foreign objects in them. This is especially true of puncture wounds, common in the feet from stepping on nails and other sharp objects. Bacteria trapped in a puncture wound can lead to tetanus, so you should also check if you need a booster shot to protect yourself. Wounds often need stitching as well.
Your provider at Cohen & Garcha Podiatry, LLP, can set a simple fracture or manually manipulate any slightly misaligned bones. They use diagnostic imaging to make sure the bones are perfectly positioned before applying a cast.
A sprain or strain might need immobilizing in a brace or splint, and you should follow your provider’s advice on limiting your activities while the injury heals. Physical therapy can also be invaluable in recovering from foot and ankle trauma.
Call Cohen & Garcha Podiatry, LLP, today or book an appointment online for expert advice and prompt treatment when you suffer a foot or ankle trauma.
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