There is very obvious swelling after a foot fracture, and there are several reasons for elevating the leg higher than the heart: first, it is beneficial for the swelling to subside, and the foot is farthest from the heart. The venous return is subject to high resistance, and water flows lower, and the leg is well relieved of swelling after elevation. Second, if the fracture is very serious and requires surgery, the standard of surgical treatment can only be met after the swelling has subsided. This can shorten the hospital stay and reduce the cost of the entire fracture treatment. Third, surgery after the swelling has subsided greatly reduces the risk of surgical infection in comparison, and likewise reduces the cost of surgery for the entire disease. In some particularly serious fractures, simply elevating the leg is not a quick way to reduce swelling and should be combined with intravenous mannitol dehydration to reduce swelling.