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Fabienne Rottenberg, DPMUpper West Side PodiatryBook on Zocdoc

Foot & ankle injuries

Ankle sprains, broken toes and foot fractures, treated close to home.

A twisted ankle, a stubbed toe that will not stop hurting or a sore spot that gets worse with every walk can all be more than a bruise. Dr. Rottenberg checks what is injured, arranges imaging when it is needed, and gives you a plan to heal properly and get back to normal without re-injuring it.

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Board-certified foot surgeon · FACFAS · Mount Sinai faculty · English, French, Hebrew & Spanish

Foot and ankle examination
Seen by a foot surgeonNot a general walk-in clinic

Information from the practice of Fabienne Rottenberg, DPM, board certified by the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery and Clinical Instructor in Orthopedics at Mount Sinai. Updated . This page is general information, not a diagnosis.

Book a visit if…

  • You rolled your ankle and it is still sore or swollen
  • A toe may be broken
  • The top of your foot hurts more each time you walk or run
  • Your ankle keeps giving way

Call the office first if…

  • You cannot put any weight on the foot
  • The foot or toe looks bent or out of place
  • There is numbness, a cold foot or a wound over the injury
  • The injury happened in the last day or two

Sprain or break?

Getting the diagnosis right the first time.

A bad sprain and a small fracture can feel the same. Dr. Rottenberg examines the foot and ankle and orders X-rays or other imaging when the exam calls for it. Stress fractures, common in runners and people who walk a lot in the city, sometimes do not show on the first X-ray, so follow-up matters.

Healing well

Protect it, then rebuild it.

Most sprains and many foot fractures heal without surgery. Treatment often starts with protection in a brace, boot or stiff-soled shoe, then a gradual return to walking and strengthening. Sprains that are not rehabilitated properly are more likely to happen again, which is why the plan does not stop when the swelling goes down.

When a fracture needs surgery or a specialist referral, you will know right away and what the next steps are.

Your options

Injury treatment options

Your plan depends on what is injured and how badly, and on what you need to get back to.

Exam and imaging

A hands-on exam, with X-rays or other imaging when needed to confirm the injury.

Boot, brace or taping

The right level of protection for the injury, so it heals in good position.

Broken toe care

Buddy taping, a stiff-soled shoe, or realignment when the toe is out of place.

Rehabilitation plan

Balance and strength work to lower the chance of spraining the ankle again.

Return-to-sport plan

Clear steps back to running, dance or sport.

Surgery when needed

For fractures or repeated sprains that need it, with a board-certified surgeon.

Dr. Fabienne Rottenberg

Who treats you

Dr. Fabienne Rottenberg, DPM, FACFAS

  • Board certified by the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery
  • Clinical Instructor in Orthopedics at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
  • Follows your injury from the first visit to full activity
  • Treats runners, dancers and everyday walkers

Telehealth available: some questions and follow-ups can be handled by video. Ask when you call.

Training, credentials and hospital affiliations

285 West End Ave at 73rd St · Mon–Thu, 9–5

Get your injury checked properly.

Find out what is injured and how to let it heal so it does not come back.

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Questions patients ask

Ankle Sprains & Foot Fractures: common questions.

Your own answer depends on an in-person exam. Call the office if your question is not here.

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How do I know if my ankle is broken or sprained?

You often cannot tell without an exam. Trouble bearing weight, tenderness right on the bone and a lot of swelling are reasons to have it checked and possibly X-rayed.

Should I see a podiatrist or go to urgent care?

If you cannot bear weight or the foot looks deformed, go to urgent care or an emergency room. For most sprains, sore toes and foot pain after activity, a podiatrist can diagnose and treat you and follow you until you heal.

Do broken toes need treatment?

Many heal with taping and a stiff-soled shoe, but a toe that is crooked, a big toe fracture or a break near the joint may need more. It is worth having it checked.

Why does my ankle keep giving way?

After a sprain, ligaments and balance can stay weak if they are not rehabilitated. Strengthening, bracing for sport and sometimes surgery can stop repeated sprains.

What is a stress fracture?

A small crack in a bone from repeated stress, often in the foot. It causes pain that builds with activity and eases with rest. It needs time off impact to heal.

Related care

Other problems Dr. Rottenberg treats

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Related reading

Articles on ankle sprains & foot fractures

Sources

Further reading from medical organizations

This page is general information, not a diagnosis. If you think you have an emergency, call 911.

Ankle Sprains & Foot Fractures · Upper West Side

Get your injury checked properly.

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