Key TakeawaysJoe Biden suffered minor fractures to his foot while playing with his dog.With correct treatment, the type of injury he sustained generally heals in a few months with a walking boot for support.
Key Takeaways
Joe Biden suffered minor fractures to his foot while playing with his dog.With correct treatment, the type of injury he sustained generally heals in a few months with a walking boot for support.
On Sunday, November 29,President-Elect Joe Biden announced that he had injured his right footafter he fell while playing with his dog, Major, a German Shepherd rescue, the day before.
Biden’s injury appeared to be a twisted ankle at first, but further investigation showed otherwise, CNN reported.
What Is a Hairline Fracture?Hairline fractures, also called stress fractures, are small cracks in bones. They usually occur in the lower extremities due to repeated high-impact activities such as running or jumping. While they are common in athletes, they can also occur in older adults with decreased bone density.
What Is a Hairline Fracture?
Hairline fractures, also called stress fractures, are small cracks in bones. They usually occur in the lower extremities due to repeated high-impact activities such as running or jumping. While they are common in athletes, they can also occur in older adults with decreased bone density.
“[Biden] rolled his foot, and instead of the force going through his ankle, it went across the foot,”Jonathan Kaplan, MD, ofHoag Orthopedic Institutein Orange County, California, tells Verywell. Kaplan did not treat Biden.
The cuneiform bones are critical to balance and mobility,Andrew Schneider, DPM, ofTanglewood Foot Specialistsin Houston, Texas, who is also uninvolved in Biden’s care, tells Verywell.
“They form the arches of the feet and help with the overall stability of the foot," Schneider says. “The joints are not hinged, like other joints. They are flat surfaces that slide along one another.”
“Cuneiform bones break less often than other bones in the foot,” Kaplan adds. “I think Biden is lucky he did not tear any ligaments. That type of inversion injury usually causes an ankle sprain.”
What Does Recovery Look Like?
Biden will be wearing a walking boot for approximately 4 to 6 weeks, which is the first course of action for his type of injury.
“When the ligament is intact, and the bones are aligned, the treatment is non-operative,” Kaplan says. “Usually, patients can walk in the boot.”
Some additional support in the shoe may be helpful after the boot.
“As we transition out of the boot, we may use an orthotic in the shoe to give a little extra support to the foot for about a month, as long as the individual is pain-free and walking without a limp,” Kaplan says.
For patients whose injury is not improving after 6 to 8 weeks in a boot, Schneider says abone growth stimulator, a medical device that uses electromagnetic or ultrasound waves to stimulate bone growth, can aid in healing.
Patients can expect additional recovery time after they discontinue the walking boot.
“Full recovery can take up to 6 months due to soreness or mild discomfort with strenuous activity,” Kaplan says.
Most hairline fractures to the foot heal with no long-term complications.
“As long as everything heals well, there is no long-term impact,” Kaplan says. “If the bones do not heal well, there is a chance of refracture, but the risk is low.”
Symptoms of a Hairline FracturePain that gets worse with activity and lessens with restSwellingTendernessBruising
Symptoms of a Hairline Fracture
Pain that gets worse with activity and lessens with restSwellingTendernessBruising
What Does Biden’s Age Mean for His Injury?
Biden is 78 years old and will be the eldest U.S. President ever to be sworn in on Inauguration Day.
“Any time you have a fracture, the typical healing time is 6 to 8 weeks, but you also have to take into account Biden’s age, which may impact his bone density,” Schneider says.
“With anyone who is elderly, my greatest concern, especially being in a boot, is falling. A walking boot is going to throw a person off-balance,” he says. “When you fall, there is a possibility of breaking something else, which may ultimately be more serious than the foot fracture you are already treating.”
Biden may still need a boot when he takes the President’s Oath in January, but it is unlikely.
What This Means For YouIf you believe you may have a stress fracture, seek immediate help from a podiatrist or orthopedist who specializes in foot and ankle injuries. Prompt treatment can prevent long-term complications.
What This Means For You
If you believe you may have a stress fracture, seek immediate help from a podiatrist or orthopedist who specializes in foot and ankle injuries. Prompt treatment can prevent long-term complications.
2 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Mucha S, Janfaza R.Biden’s doctor says he has hairline fractures in his foot after sipping while playing with his dog.CNN.New Mexico Orthopaedic Associates, P.C.What are the symptoms of a hairline fracture?
2 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Mucha S, Janfaza R.Biden’s doctor says he has hairline fractures in his foot after sipping while playing with his dog.CNN.New Mexico Orthopaedic Associates, P.C.What are the symptoms of a hairline fracture?
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Mucha S, Janfaza R.Biden’s doctor says he has hairline fractures in his foot after sipping while playing with his dog.CNN.New Mexico Orthopaedic Associates, P.C.What are the symptoms of a hairline fracture?
Mucha S, Janfaza R.Biden’s doctor says he has hairline fractures in his foot after sipping while playing with his dog.CNN.
New Mexico Orthopaedic Associates, P.C.What are the symptoms of a hairline fracture?
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