Liza Minnelli Had Surgery For A Broken Foot

Singer and actress Liza Minnelli has undergone surgery to treat a broken foot. She reportedly fractured her foot in an accident last weekend. It is unclear how she broke her foot, however she did have to pull out of a luncheon for the Police Athletic League's Woman of the Year luncheon where she was to be honored.

Many people have the misunderstanding that there is nothing that can be done for a broken foot. This could not be further from the truth. This is actually confusion with a similar saying about a broken toe, which incidentally is also false. Both are serious medical conditions that should be diagnosed and treated quickly.

If you continue to walk on a broken foot, you run the risk of displacing the fracture. At that point it can only be corrected with surgery. Surgery for a broken foot will, in most cases, involve pins, screw, and/or plates to stabilize the fracture. If a fractured foot is recognized and treated early, and the bone is in good position, surgery can be avoided. In those cases, the foot and ankle will be immobilized with a cast or fracture walker boot. Depending on the location and stability of the fracture, you may be able to walk in the boot or you may need to use crutches to keep the pressure off of the foot. A foot fracture typically heals in six to eight weeks.

Aside from increasing the possibility of surgery, an untreated foot fracture will often lead to arthritis. This can take a situation that could have only been temporarily painful into one that is chronically painful. If this happens, surgery to correct it is more extensive, the results less predictible, and the aftereffects less appealing.

If you have suffered an injury, even if it is just a "twist" of your foot or ankle, it is best to call our Houston podiatry office to have an x-ray taken. This way you can ensure that you have the most complete evaluation and the proper treatment.