Si tratta di rotture o crepe che possono interessare qualsiasi osso che compone il piede. Include le fratture delle due piccole ossa rotonde situate appena sotto l'alluce (ossa sesamoidi), le ossa del terzo medio del piede (ossa metatarsali), o le ossa della parte posteriore del piede, come l'osso calcaneare nel tallone.
È causata da traumi diretti, cadute, distorsioni o da un sovraccarico prolungato sull'osso. Il rischio di soffrirne aumenta con la pratica di sport d'impatto, con l'uso attrezzature sportive inadeguate o nel caso in cui si soffra di osteoporosi.
Si manifesta con dolore, gonfiore, ematoma e/o deformità del piede.
La diagnosi viene effettuata mediante esame obiettivo e test di imaging.
Il trattamento si basa sul controllo del dolore e sul garantire il recupero dell'osso utilizzando analgesici convenzionali ed evitando di caricare peso sul piede. I casi più gravi possono richiedere un intervento chirurgico.
Per prevenire le fratture, si consiglia di indossare calzature adeguate, seguire una dieta ricca di calcio e vitamina D ed evitare il più possibile i traumi.
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