Ankle, foot, heel and toe X-rays

These X-rays show the ankle, the bones of the foot, the heel (calcaneus) and the toes. They are requested after a sprain or a fall, or for persistent foot pain. After an ankle sprain, an X-ray is not always necessary: the doctor relies on simple clinical rules (pain at specific points of the bone, inability to take a few steps) to decide whether a fracture should be looked for. The examination may cover one side or both, from the front, the side and at an oblique angle, sometimes with additional views. Some foot images are taken standing, weight-bearing, to study the arch and how the foot bears weight. Heel pain may lead to looking for a heel spur (a small bony outgrowth).