Crush Injuries
A crush injury to the foot occurs when the foot is caught between two hard surfaces which leads to injury of the bone, or soft tissue. Crush injuries can occur from auto accidents, dropping heavy objects, or if a vehicle or heavy machinery runs over the foot. All these can result in crush injuries of the foot.
Treatment
Initial treatment should be done to address any open wounds that you may have received during the injury process. Further treatment to your foot will depend on the extent of the injury that occurred. Often the only treatment for severe injuries is surgery. Some of the injuries can include:
- Bruising
- Fractures
- Bleeding
- Nerve Damage
Crush injuries are diagnosed after physical examination. X-rays will then be performed to assess bone fractures. An MRI or CT scan may be needed to examine the soft tissue and see how much damage has been done. A blood test might also be required to test for conditions such as Rhabdomyolysis, or crush syndrome — which can lead to serious issues in the tissue.
Prompt evaluation and management of the crush injury by a podiatrist is important for minimizing long-term and serious issues with the injury.