Foot and ankle dislocations are common injuries that result from trauma. If there is enough force, a direct trauma can cause a bone to break, or fracture. But when this force is directed around a joint, it can cause one segment of the joint to become misaligned, or dislocated. While the shoulder is the most commonly dislocated joint in the human body, the joints of the foot and ankle are not far behind. If left untreated, these injuries can cause severe pain and disability.

Timing is critical for proper management of foot and ankle dislocations. After 24 hours, swelling around the injured joint sets in and makes the bones more difficult to relocate. Additionally, the ligaments that normally maintain the alignment of the joint may become locked in their new position. Closed manipulation, also referred to as closed reduction, of the involved joint is the first line of treatment to re align the joint into its normal position. This is often done only after administration of an anesthetic block to minimize pain during manipulation. Once the joint is realigned, it is critical to keep the foot immobilized so that the bones do not re-dislocate. If the injury cannot be reduced through manipulation, surgical intervention may be necessary. This usually involves using a wire or pin to re align the bones of the joint.

Do not underestimate the importance of a properly aligned foot. As mentioned, timing is crucial for proper management of these devastating injuries. After any bone or joint injury, do not hesitate to make an appointment with the skilled doctors of Advanced Podiatry!

Athletes Foot is probably the best known infection you can pick up at the gym. It’s an itchy rash that is usually red, inflamed, and scaly. It is highly contagious and can be caught anytime you are barefoot, in open toed shoes, while wearing wet or damp socks, or shoes. 

With fall sports in full swing, one of the more common consults we have been seeing in our offices is soccer related injuries in pediatric patients. If overlooked, these injuries can be devastating and lead to long term pain and disability.

Because of the fast pace and cutting movements involved in soccer, ankle sprains are fairly common. When the foot rolls under the ankle, this creates tension on the ankle ligaments. If the force is great enough, these ligaments can become “sprained” – meaning that they become elongated, and in some cases partially or even fully torn. There is immediate pain associated with an ankle sprain. But if these injuries linger, they can lead to long term stiffness and pain with activity. Identifying an ankle sprain is critical, as seeking immediate treatment can prevent the long term effects of these injuries. Management of ankle sprains includes x-rays to rule out bony injuries, immobilization with a walking boot or ankle brace, and physical therapy. Some practitioners may also recommend an anti-inflammatory medication to reduce swelling and relieve pain.

Another common condition that affects young soccer players is Sever’s disease, also known as calcaneal apophysitis. This painful condition results from pain and swelling around the active growth plate in the back of the heel bone. This growth center appears around ages 7-8 and closes at 12-14 years of age. Children who are active and play fast paced sports such as soccer may irritate this growth center. Management of Sever’s disease includes rest or activity modification, shoe modification, icing, stretching of the Achilles tendon, and physical therapy. Because this condition is self-limiting and will cease to cause pain when the growth center closes, the goal of managing Sever’s disease is aimed at mitigating symptoms. 

While not often thought of as a sports injury, ingrown toe nails are common amongst young soccer players. The tight cleats worn while playing soccer combined with the trauma from kicking the ball can exacerbate and sometimes even cause ingrown toe nails. If left untreated, ingrown nails can become severely painful and can cause infection.

There are a myriad of injuries and pathologies seen in children who play soccer. Do not hesitate to bring your child in for evaluation so that they can be managed appropriately by the experts of Advanced Podiatry!