Healing time | Physiotherapy for a scaphoid fracture of the foot

Healing time

The healing time of a scaphoid fracture of the foot takes a relatively long time. With a conservative approach, one can assume a healing time of about 6-8 months. If surgery was necessary, healing can take up to 10 weeks.

If necessary, a certain amount of body weight may be applied to the foot during the course of the operation. However, especially at the beginning of the healing process, complete relief of the fracture is essential to ensure fast and clean healing. To accelerate the healing time of a fracture, optimal healing conditions should be created.

The fracture should be immobilised as far as possible and the supply, i.e. the blood and lymph flow, should be additionally stimulated to supply the foot with nutrients. This can be supported by dosed mobilizing physiotherapy and manual lymph drainage. The general condition of the patient should also be supported, for example, a lack of minerals or infections can slow down the healing process.

A balanced diet and possibly the intake of certain minerals can support the healing process. Otherwise, healing of a fracture is difficult to influence. It takes time for the bones to grow together again.

When does a scaphoid fracture require surgery?

Most scaphoid fractures can be treated conservatively, i.e. by means of plaster immobilization. An operation is necessary in the following cases: If insufficient conservative healing results in a so-called pseudarthrosis. The bone fragments grow together poorly and remain movable in relation to each other and the load-bearing capacity of the foot is permanently limited.

An operation is performed to stabilize the fragments and to connect them firmly together. Subsequent immobilization is necessary. The healing period is delayed.

Surgery is still necessary if the fracture fragments have slipped, i.e. there is no straight and correct connection between the fragments. Reduction of the fragments is necessary.The bones are then surgically fixed and immobilized. Comminuted fractures must also be treated surgically.

After the operation, immobilization is usually necessary despite the fixation. A rehabilitative therapy follows, as with a conservative fracture. The physiotherapeutic follow-up treatment is based on the surgeon’s instructions.