MyMediktor - Foot trauma - Foot contusion

Very low urgency

Common-

A non-penetrating injury caused by a low to medium intensity blow to the foot.

It is usually secondary to a direct blow against a hard object with a blunt surface. The most frequent causes are trauma in contact sports, ball sports, occupational and domestic accidents.

It manifests with severe pain, bruising and swelling that can make walking difficult.

Diagnosis is clinical, by interrogation of the episode and examination of the foot. X-rays are taken to rule out fractures when there is clinical doubt.

Treatment of pain with standard analgesics is usually sufficient. Local cold should be applied during the first two days after the blow to reduce inflammation.

Bibliographic references

Karl B Fields. Evaluation and diagnosis of common causes of foot pain in adults. UpToDate. Nov 01, 2016.
Doctors and editors of UpToDate. Patient education: Taking care of bruises (The Basics).

Author

Dr. Sara Vitoria

Copyright

Symptoms

Swollen foot

Bruising around the injury

Pain in foot

Swollen limb

Pain in the foot increases when walking

Symptoms to watch out for

The bruise doesn't disappear and/or worsens after a week

Pain that doesn't subside with analgesics

Inability to move the extremity

Self-care

Consume over-the-counter pain relievers or anti-inflammatories.

Apply local cold in the area of the lesion 3 times a day to reduce inflammation.

Keep the limb raised

Avoid doing abrupt movements.