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 What is it? The fifth metatarsal is the long bone on the outside of the foot that starts in the middle of the foot and forms a joint with the pinky toe. It is the most commonly fractured metatarsal bone. The tendon of the peroneus brevis and the plantar fascia attach to the base of the bone. Often the base of the fifth metatarsal can be felt as a bump on the outside of the middle part of the foot. When the foot is twisted inward, a piece of the bone can be pulled off (avulsed) with the tendon or plantar fascia, leading to an avulsion fracture. A fracture slightly closer to the toe is called a Jones fracture, named after famous Welsh surgeon Sir Robert Jones. This area of the bone has a poor blood supply making healing more difficult even with appropriate treatment. Fractures here often occur when the toes are on the ground, the heel is off the ground and there is a change in direction of the foot, resulting in the patient’s weight shifting over the fifth metatarsal. Stress fractures most commonly occur further down the bone. They are due to repetitive overloading on the bone, usually in younger athletes who perform a lot of running, jumping or pivoting activities. Commonly, the athlete will have pain over the side of the foot before the fracture occurs.
Symptoms Symptoms of a fifth metatarsal fracture can include: • Pain • Swelling • Bruising • Difficulty walking • Deformity
Sports Medicine Evaluation and Treatment A sports medicine physician will review the history of the injury and push along the bone to determine any areas of tenderness. The foot will then be moved around to evaluate for any instability. X-rays of the foot will likely be taken to determine the location of the fracture. Depending on the results of the X-ray, the physician may order an MRI or a bone scan to evaluate for a hidden or occult fracture. Treatment depends on the type of fracture encountered. For avulsion fractures, the sports medicine physician may apply a soft protective dressing, brace, cast, or may recommend a hard-soled shoe. This type of fracture rarely requires surgery. Usually, the patient can put weight on the foot as tolerated. If the athlete has a Jones fracture, the sports medicine physician may recommend either non-surgical or surgical treatment. Nonsurgical treatment consists of placing one in a cast or walking boot and no weight-bearing on the foot for six to eight weeks. The patient will gradually progress to putting weight on the foot as tolerated. Most patients will heal using this method, but some may still end up needing surgery. The other option is early surgery to place a screw in the bone to make the fracture stable and then a period of restricted movement of the foot. When a stress fracture is identified, depending on the location, the treatment may be non-surgical, but most commonly, this type of fracture does require surgery to ensure proper healing.
Injury Prevention Avulsion fractures and Jones fractures are often acute injuries and cannot be avoided, but keeping the ankle strong can potentially prevent them. Proper running technique, avoiding older, worn shoes that have lost their shock-absorption ability, progressing slowly when starting or resuming running workouts, especially when changing to a harder running surface, and early evaluation of pain on the outside of the foot can prevent the development of stress fractures and consequent loss of playing time.
Return to Play For avulsion fractures, the athlete may return to play as soon as the pain is tolerable and there is no increased risk of injury due to instability, which usually occurs between two and six weeks after the injury. For Jones fractures and stress fractures, X-ray confirmation of healing is required before the athlete is allowed to return to play. This time is variable and can range from six to 21 weeks. AMSSM Member Authors References Category: Bone Health and Fractures, Foot and Ankle, Overuse Injuries, [Back] |
