Foot Fracture Surgery

At Welbeck, foot fracture surgery is carried out under local or general anaesthetic by our consultant orthopaedic surgeons. 

At your initial consultation, your surgeon will talk you through the type of anaesthetic and the specific surgical techniques they’ll use. This will include one of the following methods:

• heel bone surgery (calcaneus) – a fracture of the heel bone is treated by creating an L-shaped incision over the heel, the fracture is realigned, and fixed with a plate, or individual pins or screws

• inside midfoot (navicular) – an incision is made over the fracture and the 2 bones are realigned, before being secured with screws, or a plate and screws

• outside midfoot (cuboid) – a fracture caused by a compression injury. This type of surgery aims to lengthen the outside of the foot with a plate and screws inserted directly into the bone. Once the fracture heals, the plates and screws are removed

• metatarsal fracture – if a metatarsal injury is severe, surgery is needed. An incision is made over the fractured metatarsal and fixed with a combination of pins, screws, and plates

• toes (phalanges) – if the toes become deformed after a displaced fracture, surgery is needed. This involves placing the toe into alignment, making an incision, and inserting a pin through the tip of the toe to hold the fracture in place. Once the fracture heals, the pin can be removed

Foot fracture surgery is generally very safe, but like all types of surgery, it can cause some side effects. These include:

• weakness in the foot

• not being able to walk as well as you did before the fracture

• infection

• the need for further surgery, if the bone doesn’t heal properly

• nerve damage

Your consultant will discuss all of these risks with you beforehand and will talk through any concerns you may have.

Preparation for foot fracture surgery depends on the type of fracture and how severe it is. Your consultant will give you all the details you need before your procedure, including whether you need to fast or not. 

Make sure you tell them about any medicines you take regularly, including over-the-counter painkillers.

You’re also likely to need imaging tests before your surgery, such as an:

• ultrasound

• X-ray

• MRI

After your operation, you’ll be monitored for a few hours by a specialist nurse. To stop your foot from moving, you’ll need to wear a cast or boot, which will help the foot to heal in the correct position. 

Once you’ve seen your consultant after surgery, you’ll be able to go home. Organise for someone to pick you up and drop you at home, as well as stay with you for a few days to help you get settled.

Make sure to elevate your foot regularly to give your injury the best chance of healing, and follow any pain relief, wound dressing, and foot exercise advice you’re given.

Please contact our Surgery Centre for pricing information.

At Welbeck, our orthopaedic surgeons are experts in their field and are dedicated to providing world-class care to every patient.

With access to colleagues across other specialties, our consultants are also able to refer within the Welbeck ecosystem if required to ensure you receive the treatment you need as quickly as possible, all under one roof.  

All appointments, testing, treatment, and follow-up appointments take place within our state-of-the-art facilities, enabling us to deliver accurate diagnostics and advanced treatments.

To book foot fracture surgery, you’ll need to have a consultation with an orthopaedic surgeon. Please get in touch to make an appointment. Your health is important to us, so we strive to offer same-day appointments whenever possible.

Our consultants are recognised by the major health insurance companies. If you have private health insurance, your treatment at Welbeck can begin once you have obtained authorisation. We also provide care to self-paying patients. Learn more about the different payment options at Welbeck.