Common injuries of the foot. Often more than 'just a sprain'

While most foot injuries heal without treatment, failure to recognize and treat some can have disastrous consequences. The exact mechanism of injury must be determined for accurate diagnosis. Many injuries, such as plantar fasciitis, "pump bump," sesamoiditis, and stress fractures, are the result of cumulative, repetitive stress rather than of an acute event. Others, such as injuries to tendons, may be chronic or acute. The foot is susceptible to numerous types of acute trauma, including sprains, fractures, dislocations, crushing, freezing, thermal injury, puncture wounds, and penetration by foreign bodies. Special care is required to minimize the danger of serious complications when treating foot injuries in diabetic patients.