Is it normal to have surgery when you break your foot?

[Kitty 34]

I broke my foot years ago ( when I was in college) and had one of those "walking" casts put on for about 8 weeks. For the most part all was fine when the cast came off.

Fast forward to now......middle DS (18) broke his foot on Christmas Eve doing exercises for Track. Ironically it's almost the identical break as mine but when my DH took him to the bone doctor today they have son down now for surgery tomorrow!!! The doctor wants to put a pin in his foot saying it will heal faster and better??

First of all he will now have to be on crutches for 6 weeks. I had crutches maybe two days until the cast dried and then was able to walk on it because it was in the hard cast. I'm not sure yet what kind of cast he will have put on a week after his surgery heals.

I just can not figure out what is better about having surgery versus just getting a cast put on?

Someone please enlighten me on this if you can. Thanks.

 

[ziggystardust]

My sister broke her foot 1 yr 1/2 ago. She stepped off a curb the wrong way and basically shattered her foot. She being the bright one she is didn't go to the doctor for almost a month (she questioned why it was still black and blue)

anyway, they performed surgery and put a few pins in. She was on crutches for a while.

So I guess its more common than you think. It was the first time she ever broke something, or had surgery.


Good Luck to your son!

 

[UrsulasMyHero]

I guess it depends on the break. I broke my foot, never did anything about it but wrap it tight for a few weeks, and keep it elevated. My Ex husband had his in a cast, like yours. I guess it all depends on the doctor, the break and your insurance.

 

[Nancy]

I broke my foot last year at this time. I had a hairline fracture in the bone above my middle toe and an actual break in a bone furthur up the foot. I had a removable walking cast put on it for 6 weeks. (I also walked around on it for about 1 month until the pain got so bad and my foot swelled so bad I couldn't get a shoe on).

So for the surgery, I would think it would depend on where and how bad the break was. I do have to say that my foot still hurts, still swells up and makes the worst cracking sounds once in awhile.

 

[MsDisney23]

I have no idea, but wanted to wish your son the very best.

 

[puggymom]

I broke my foot and had to have a plate and 4 pins put in, but it was 4 breaks on one bone, including one the completely broke the bone in half. OUCH!

My nephew has had a few over the years playing football and one time he needed a pin put in because the part that broke was attached to the ligament. The other times he had walking casts or boots. So yes, it depends on where the break is.