As my loyal NYC podiatry readers may recall, a few weeks back we talked about Victor Cruz, and his heel injury. And while the New York Giants are not quite “cruising” toward “Victor-y,” our hero has returned to playing. It turns out that the injury was just a contusion, which is the term doctors use to describe a boo-boo when we want to sound educated. To continue our previous theme, let’s talk about some more devastating heel injuries.
We can start with the following not so hypothetical scenario. Our patient is “fixing” his cable up on a ladder near the second floor of his house. The ladder is less than stable and falls back (think Bluto in Animal House). The patient falls on both heels, and the heel bones shatter. I have indeed been witness to such a scenario, and yes, the patient is once again walking. This type of foot and ankle injury is serious, and depending on the exact type of fracture, may be best treated surgically. The heel bone is a large bone with unusual contour, and articulates with the talus bone, which in turn articulates with the tibia, or shin bone. Because of the complex range of motion that exists within this construct it is critical to restore the natural anatomy, and because of the unique shape of the bone, that task can be like nailing custard pie to the wall”, as is the common refrain among foot and ankle surgeons. And like any other joint, a fracture within the joint can often lead to traumatic arthritis in the long term.
So kids, the lesson this week, is don’t steal cable. And if you must, have a friend hold the ladder steady. And if you don’t have a friend, well your NYC podiatrist is always available.
See you in the office.
Ernest Isaacson
