One of the most common injuries we see in the office is broken bones. Broken bones, also known as fractures, can occur in the bones of the leg and the foot, and often require us to place a patient in a cast in order to promote the best alignment for healing. When I put patient’s in a cast, I get many questions about the process. Here are some answers to the more common questions I hear in my office:

 How long will it take for my bone to heal?

Broken bones take a while to heal, and healing times can vary due to the type of injury and the bone that is broken. Age, gender, and overall health also can play a role. It is important to keep your cast on for as long as your doctor recommends, to achieve the best outcome when it is finally ready to be taken off.

 How will you take the cast off? Will it hurt?

Casts are removed with a device called a cast cutter; the cast cutter has a circular head that vibrates very rapidly. Many patients do not like this part, because they fear that the cast cutter can injure them. In truth, while the cast cutter can be quite loud, it cannot hurt you. It is designed so that it can easily cut through a cast, but is not able to break skin.

 Why do I need physical therapy after my cast is taken off?

While in a cast, your muscles don’t need to do as much work as they need to, and they can get weaker. For this reason, we recommend physical therapy after the cast is removed to strengthen the muscles and help you return to your proper level of activity. If you have any questions after reading this, do not hesitate to call our Piqua office.

 Eric Polansky, DPM