Does a Foot Fracture Require a Cast?

Foot fractures are common, but luckily, treatment is often straightforward. Depending on the type of fracture you have and its severity, you might not even need a cast. Here’s when casts are recommended and when alternatives are an option.

Every year, millions of people break bones, including the bones in their feet. Considering we use our feet every day for standing, walking, and plenty of other activities, it’s not surprising that foot fractures are a relatively common problem for people of all ages.

Offering island-wide fracture care, Minit Medical Urgent Care and Physical Therapy helps patients find relief from painful foot fractures while promoting optimal injury healing. Read on to learn the basics about foot fractures, including when casting is used, and when another option might be recommended, instead.

Foot fracture basics

Feet are surprisingly complex structures. Each foot contains 26 bones, and any one of them can break. Many foot fractures occur in the middle of the foot, in bones called the metatarsals, but your toes and heel bones can break, too.

Foot fractures can happen for various reasons, including car accidents, falls, and sports injuries. Landing poorly after a jump or even something as simple as turning your foot in an odd way when you take a step can cause a bone fracture.

Some people develop fractures because they have weak bones, thanks to osteoporosis. Stress fractures can happen, too, as a result of repeated strains on your feet. Regardless of the cause, all foot fractures require prompt care to prevent more serious complications.

To cast or not to cast

Like other limb fractures, foot fractures need to be kept immobile in order to allow the ends of the bones to “knit” or heal. Even a little movement or strain on the fracture site can lead to problems with the way the bones heal, increasing the risk you’ll need surgery or other complex types of treatment.

For many foot fractures, keeping the area immobile means wearing a cast. Casts are made of durable, lightweight materials that prevent movement while also protecting the foot from potential impacts.

But for some fractures, a cast may not be necessary or ideal. In these cases, we may recommend a splint. Unlike a cast that surrounds your foot and lower leg, a splint uses supports on either side of your limb. This design immobilizes your foot, but unlike a restrictive cast, it also allows for swelling in the area.

In other cases, we might recommend a special surgical boot that provides support while allowing more access to the injured area. Boots come in different designs depending on the type and severity of your fracture. Boots are also frequently used to provide ongoing support for a foot after a cast is removed.

If the bone fracture is in one of your toes, taping the injured toe to the healthy toe beside it is a simple way to immobilize the injured area while it heals.

Top care for your fracture

Our team has on-site X-ray machines at each location, is skilled in all types of fracture care, and also offers physical therapy to improve foot strength and mobility once healing is under way. PT promotes faster healing while also reducing the risk of future bone fractures.

If you think you have a foot fracture, prompt care is important for preventing more serious problems. To learn how we can help or to have your injury evaluated, book an appointment online or over the phone with our team Minit Medical Urgent Care and Physical Therapy in Kihei, Kahului, and Lahaina, Hawaii, or stop by for a walk-in visit today.