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Health condition · Clinically reviewed

Foot fracture, from toe injuries to Lisfranc, talar and calcaneal breaks.

The foot has 26 bones and no two fractures behave the same. This guide covers the everyday injuries, the high-risk fractures, and the red flags that need urgent orthopaedic care.

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A radiographer guides a patient onto the bed of an advanced 3 Tesla MRI scanner in a London imaging suite

Why trust this guide

  • 01

    Clinically reviewed

    Written by our editorial team and reviewed by a registered UK clinician before publication.

  • 02

    Sourced from guidance

    Checked against BOAST, BOA, NICE and peer-reviewed foot and ankle sources you can see at the end.

  • 03

    Current for 2026

    Reflects modern UK guidance including BOAST 4 for open fractures, weight-bearing X-rays for Lisfranc, and CT for calcaneal planning.

Key facts

Foot fractures at a glance.

The essentials, in plain English - the patterns, the high-risk fractures, and what recovery actually looks like.

  • What it is

    A break in one or more of the 26 bones of the foot, from a phalanx to the calcaneus, with very different healing expectations.

  • Common patterns

    Toe and metatarsal fractures are the everyday injuries; calcaneal, talar and Lisfranc fractures are the serious ones.

  • High-risk fractures

    Jones (5th metatarsal proximal diaphysis), navicular stress, talar body and calcaneal intra-articular fractures heal poorly and need specialist care.

  • Red flags

    Open wounds, compartment syndrome, neurovascular compromise, dislocation, and a possible spinal injury after a fall from height.

  • Assessment

    History, careful examination and plain films, with weight-bearing views for Lisfranc and CT or MRI where indicated.

  • Recovery

    Most simple foot fractures heal within 6 to 8 weeks; complex fractures often need many months of rehabilitation.

Why this guide matters

Not every broken foot is equal.

A stubbed toe and a calcaneal fracture both count as broken bones - but they need very different care. Three points shape the whole guide.

  • Location decides everything

    Toe, metatarsal, midfoot, hindfoot - the site of the fracture drives imaging, treatment and the timeline more than anything else.

  • Some fractures are high-risk

    Jones, navicular stress, talar body and displaced calcaneal fractures heal poorly and often need surgical care by a foot and ankle specialist.

  • Red flags override the pattern

    Open wounds, compartment syndrome, a cold foot or a fall from height change the priority immediately - specialist care, not a boot.

How the diagnosis is made

From the first swelling to a clear plan.

The steps a UK emergency team or foot and ankle specialist will normally follow, in order - so you know what to expect and why.

  1. 01

    Assessing

    History and mechanism

    Direct blow, twisting injury, fall from height or an overuse pattern in a runner. The mechanism narrows the differential quickly.

  2. 02

    Assessing

    Inspection and palpation

    Swelling, bruising, deformity, an open wound and point tenderness across the midfoot, hindfoot and forefoot.

  3. 03

    Assessing

    Neurovascular and compartment check

    Pulses, capillary refill, sensation and pain out of proportion. The foot has nine compartments and swelling matters.

  4. 04

    Confirming

    Plain X-rays

    AP, lateral and oblique views as standard. Weight-bearing views are used selectively for suspected Lisfranc injury.

  5. 05

    Confirming

    CT for complex fractures

    Intra-articular calcaneal and talar fractures, comminuted Lisfranc injuries and preoperative planning. Ordered by the specialist team.

  6. 06

    Preparing

    MRI for occult and stress fractures

    Navicular stress, subtle Lisfranc ligament injury and unexplained persistent pain with normal films. Specialist commissioned.

  7. 07

    Preparing

    Escalation to orthopaedics

    Displaced, intra-articular, open, high-risk or unstable fractures are referred to a foot and ankle team without delay.

Typical timeline: a clear diagnosis on the day, and a settled plan within a week for most patients.

Symptoms

What a broken foot feels like.

The typical mix of pain, swelling and functional loss, and the features that mean the injury is more serious than it first looks.

  • Pain and point tenderness

    Sharp, localised pain over the fractured bone that is worse with weight-bearing or direct pressure.

  • Swelling and bruising

    Rapid swelling around the injury with bruising that often tracks into the sole or the toes over 24 to 48 hours.

  • Inability to weight-bear

    Struggling to take four steps at the time of injury or in the emergency department is a classic marker.

  • Visible deformity

    Angulation, shortening or a rotated toe is a sign of a displaced fracture or fracture-dislocation.

  • Open wounds

    Any wound over a suspected fracture is treated as an open fracture until proven otherwise under BOAST 4.

  • Numbness or a cold foot

    Suggests neurovascular compromise or compartment syndrome and needs urgent assessment.

  • Insidious activity-related pain

    Ache that builds up over weeks of running or marching is the pattern of a metatarsal or navicular stress fracture.

  • Red flag - back pain after a fall

    A calcaneal fracture from a fall from height is associated with spinal injury in around 10 per cent of cases.

Treatment

How foot fractures are treated in the UK.

Emergency care first for open fractures and dislocations, followed by conservative management for stable injuries and surgical fixation for high-risk or displaced patterns.

  • Buddy taping and rigid-soled shoe

    The mainstay for most undisplaced toe fractures. Comfortable early mobilisation and a review at six weeks.

  • Walking boot or below-knee cast

    Used for undisplaced metatarsal, midfoot and calcaneal fractures. Weight-bearing status is set by the fracture pattern.

  • Non-weight-bearing plus crutches

    Reserved for high-risk fractures such as Jones, navicular stress, talar and displaced calcaneal injuries during the initial phase.

  • ORIF for displaced metatarsals

    Plates, screws or intramedullary screws are used for displaced shaft fractures, unstable 5th metatarsal Jones fractures and articular injuries.

  • Lisfranc fixation or fusion

    ORIF or a primary arthrodesis for unstable tarsometatarsal injuries, guided by a foot and ankle specialist. Specialist commissioned.

  • Calcaneal reconstruction

    ORIF with plates, or a minimally invasive percutaneous approach, restores Böhler and Gissane angles for displaced intra-articular fractures. Specialist commissioned.

  • Talar ORIF

    Urgent anatomical reduction and fixation to reduce the risk of avascular necrosis. Hawkins signs guide follow-up. Specialist commissioned.

  • Stress fracture rehabilitation

    Offloading, a walking boot, biomechanical review and, for high-risk sites such as the navicular, internal fixation.

A note on rehabilitation

Foot and ankle physiotherapy is a critical part of recovery after any significant fracture. Complications to watch for include non-union, malunion, avascular necrosis, post-traumatic arthritis, complex regional pain syndrome and compartment syndrome. Care is delivered by a multidisciplinary trauma and foot and ankle team.

What this guide is based on

The sources behind every claim on this page.

UK national guidance and specialist society standards, current at the time of last review.

Key references

Guidelines and standards we relied on.

A quiet reminder

This guide is for information, not medical advice.

Your GP or orthopaedic surgeon knows your foot and history and can tell you which parts apply to you. If in doubt, get seen.

  • BOAST. British Orthopaedic Association Standards for Trauma - Open Fractures (BOAST 4).

  • BOA. Foot and ankle fracture management standards, British Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (BOFAS).

  • NICE. NG38 fractures (complex) and NG37 fractures (non-complex).

  • AAOS and peer-reviewed guidance on calcaneal, talar and Lisfranc injuries.

Red flags

When a foot fracture needs urgent care.

Most foot fractures are managed in a minor injuries unit or fracture clinic. These are the situations that need the trauma team on the same day.

  • Open fracture

    Any wound overlying a suspected fracture is a surgical emergency. BOAST 4 mandates urgent antibiotics, tetanus cover and orthoplastic input.

  • Compartment syndrome of the foot

    Pain out of proportion, tense swelling and pain on passive toe movement. Requires urgent surgical assessment for fasciotomy.

  • Neurovascular compromise

    Loss of pulses, cold pale foot or new sensory or motor deficit needs immediate reduction and specialist review.

  • Fracture-dislocation

    A visibly deformed foot with a suspected talar or Lisfranc dislocation is time-critical. Reduce and refer.

  • Fall from height

    A calcaneal fracture from a fall is associated with spinal, contralateral limb and pelvic injuries in around 10 per cent. Screen the spine.

  • Lisfranc injury

    Subtle midfoot swelling, plantar bruising and pain on tarsometatarsal palpation. Often missed on non-weight-bearing X-rays.

  • Navicular stress fracture

    Vague midfoot ache in a runner with a normal X-ray. Missed diagnosis leads to non-union - specialist MRI is needed.

  • Jones fracture

    Proximal 5th metatarsal diaphyseal fracture. High non-union rate and often needs surgical fixation.

  • Suspected non-accidental injury

    Unexplained fractures in a child, or a mechanism that does not fit the injury, needs a safeguarding conversation.

Living with it

A healing bone, and a rehab plan.

Four things that make the biggest difference during recovery - wearing the boot, respecting the weight-bearing plan, starting physio at the right time, and speaking up when pain lingers.

A quiet reminder

Bones heal on their timetable, not yours.

Loading a fracture too early is one of the commonest routes to non-union. Patience during weeks four to eight often saves months of trouble later.

  1. 01 Boot

    Wear it as prescribed

    The boot only works if it is worn for weight-bearing activities. Take it off to sleep unless told otherwise.

  2. 02 Load

    Respect the weight-bearing plan

    Non-weight-bearing means no walking at all on that foot. Fudging it delays healing and can push a fracture into non-union.

  3. 03 Rehab

    Physiotherapy from week six

    Range of movement, calf strength and gait retraining are what get you back to sport, not simply time out of the boot.

  4. 04 Escalate

    Speak up if pain persists

    Ongoing pain at six to eight weeks is not normal. It may mean non-union, malunion or a missed injury that needs re-imaging.

Frequently asked

Everything we get asked about foot fractures.

Quick answers on healing times, walking, Jones and Lisfranc injuries, and when surgery is needed.

  • How long does a foot fracture take to heal?

    A simple toe or undisplaced metatarsal fracture usually heals in 6 to 8 weeks. A Jones fracture, navicular stress fracture, calcaneal or talar fracture often takes three to six months, and full return to sport can be six to twelve months.

  • Can I walk on a fractured foot?

    It depends entirely on the bone and the pattern. Toe fractures often allow immediate weight-bearing in a rigid shoe, undisplaced metatarsal fractures usually allow protected weight-bearing in a boot, and high-risk fractures such as Jones, navicular stress, talus and displaced calcaneal fractures require a period of strict non-weight-bearing.

  • What is a Jones fracture and why does it matter?

    A Jones fracture is a break of the proximal diaphysis of the 5th metatarsal, in an area with a poor blood supply. It has a high rate of delayed and non-union, and in active or athletic patients it is often fixed surgically with an intramedullary screw for a more reliable return to sport.

  • What is a Lisfranc injury?

    A Lisfranc injury is a fracture or ligament disruption at the tarsometatarsal joint complex in the midfoot. It is easy to miss on standard X-rays. Weight-bearing films or an MRI are needed, and unstable injuries need surgical fixation or a primary fusion by a foot and ankle specialist.

  • Why is a calcaneal fracture so serious?

    The calcaneus is the largest bone in the foot and the heel takes enormous load. Fractures usually follow a fall from height, are often intra-articular, and are associated with spinal injuries in about 10 per cent of cases. Even after surgery, stiffness, subtalar arthritis and long recovery times are common.

  • When do I need surgery?

    Surgery is considered for displaced fractures, intra-articular fractures, unstable Lisfranc injuries, most talar fractures, Jones fractures in active adults, displaced calcaneal fractures and any fracture with an open wound or neurovascular compromise. A foot and ankle specialist will discuss ORIF, arthrodesis or minimally invasive fixation.

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