This type of injury is usually caused by a fall or an object landing on the foot, but it could also happen if the foot is suddenly jarred. Broken foot bones cause pain, swelling, bruising, and weakness in the foot. It may tingle or feel numb. If the bones are broken badly, they may look misshapen, and it may be impossible to walk. Metatarsals are the equivalent in the foot of the bones in the palm.
Stress fractures are common in athletes and are caused by repeated trauma to a bone.
They resemble small cracks in the bone but can turn into overt fractures, actually severing and displacing the bone. After a visual examination and questioning the patient, the injury can be diagnosed with an X-ray of the foot, which will reveal the location of the fracture. If it's a small or hairline fracture, a cast will stabilize the bone and allow it to heal itself. If it's a bad break, surgery to realign the bones may be necessary. Often, patients need to wear a cast or splint on the foot, depending on how bad the break is, and will have to use crutches for a while.