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Broken Heel

(Heel Fracture)

By

The Manual's Editorial Staff

Reviewed/Revised Jan 2023
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What is a broken heel?

  • It takes a lot of force to break your heel bone

  • You may have knee and spine injuries along with a broken heel

  • Usually doctors treat you with a splint, but for a bad fracture they may do surgery

Locating the Heel Bone

The heel bone (calcaneus) is located at the back of the foot.

Locating the Heel Bone

What causes the heel to break?

Common causes:

  • Falling from a height

  • Car crashes

  • Sports injuries

The heel is also at risk for stress fractures. These are tiny cracks in the bone that come from the same motion happening over and over (such as in long distance running).

What are the symptoms of a broken heel?

Symptoms include:

  • Foot pain

  • Swelling and bruising

  • Inability to put weight on the foot

How can doctors tell if my heel is broken?

How do doctors treat a broken heel?

Doctors will:

NOTE: This is the Consumer Version. DOCTORS: VIEW PROFESSIONAL VERSION
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