Katie Ormerod, a promising 20-year old snow boarder from Great Britain, must cancel on her Olympic plans the week before the winter games start. Ormerod suffered a wrist injury while training but pushed through, only to fracture her calcaneus days before stepping onto the Olympic stage in Pyeongchang. For a snowboarder a heel fracture cannot be ignored but calls for emergency surgery.
Heel fractures tend to happen in high-energy traumatic events such as; extreme sports, falling from a high distance, or a severe car crash. Often after severe trauma the heel can become deformed. The heel can change shape by widening or shortening after a fracture, often surgery is used to restore the normal calcaneus shape. With a change in heel shape the limb length can differ from the right to the left leg leading to a limp.
Arthritis, joint stiffness and joint pain frequently manifest after trauma because of changes that takes place in the foot with any fracture, but on a larger scale with a calcaneal fracture. The calcaneus is the largest bone in the foot and shares a joint space in multiple locations with 3 other bones in the foot/ankle making the calcaneus an integral part of lower limb anatomy and mechanics. To off-set these issues post calcaneal fracture healing occasionally orthotic devices might be needed. Luckily, heel fractures account for only 2% of all fractures but if you happen to fracture your heel Frederick Foot & Ankle is ready to assist you in your recovery.
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