Introduction from Mr Paul Dearden, Consultant Surgeon:
Calcaneus Avulsion
Hello, I’m Mr. Dearden, and I’m an orthopaedic surgeon. I regularly treat patients with your type of injury, and I’m here to guide you through the details of your injury, the treatment required, and to provide a recovery plan. You have sustained an avulsion fracture to your calcaneum. This is where a ligament has pulled away a small piece of bone and is essentially treated as a sprain. An example of this injury is now demonstrated on your screen. This is a common injury, and it will take around six weeks to heal itself. Pain and swelling are normal in the early stages and may take around three months to resolve. You may need to take painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs, especially in the first few weeks.
Further guidance on the initial management of your injury can be found in phase one of your rehabilitation plan. You can walk on your foot as pain allows. You may have been provided with a walker boot. This is not to aid healing and is purely for your comfort. Please refer to the walker boot video for further guidance on applying and removing your walker boot. You may return to driving as soon as you are permanently out of your walker boot. You must be able to comfortably perform an emergency stop and safely manoeuvre your vehicle. You may return to work as soon as you are comfortable doing so.
The walker boot is worn for minimum of 4 weeks.
Your recovery
These links will guide you through a number of rehabilitation exercises to help you recover from your injury. You will need to follow them in the correct order.
PHASE 1 (0 to 2 weeks) PHASE 2 (2 to 4 weeks) PHASE 3 (4 to 6 weeks) PHASE 4 (6 weeks onwards)