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Metatarsal Fracture Guide

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96 views2 pages

Metatarsal Fracture Guide

Uploaded by

Esra
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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EDUCATION AND TAKE-HOME INSTRUCTION

Metatarsal Fracture BostonChildrens.org/OrthoUrgentCare | 617-355-6021

What is a metatarsal fracture?


The metatarsals are the long bones of the foot. A metatarsal
fracture is a crack or break in one of the long bones of the foot.
There are five metatarsals in the foot, one for each toe.

Any metatarsal can be fractured, but there are a few different


types of 5th metatarsal fractures (the metatarsal for the pinky toe).

Avulsion fracture
The peroneal tendon, one of the ankle tendons, pulls a small piece
of bone off the 5th metatarsal. This is a common injury with ankle
sprains.

Jones fracture
This is a fracture through the upper shaft of the 5th metatarsal. This
injury is often associated with sports. The fracture may require
surgery because it can be very slow to heal on its own.

Pseudo-Jones fracture
This is also a fracture of the upper part of the 5th metatarsal, but
it is in a different spot than a true Jones fracture. This fracture
usually does not require surgery.

Metatarsals
What causes a metatarsal fracture?
These injuries are usually caused by a fall or direct blow to the
foot. Too much force is put on the bone(s) and this causes a
fracture. Stress fractures can also happen due to overuse over
many weeks. Common causes of this injury include:
• getting stepped on
• stepping awkwardly and twisting the foot or rolling the ankle
• training in worn out shoes or doing lots of high impact activity
on hard surfaces, such as running long distances on pavement Peroneal 5th metatarsal
tendon

How is this injury treated?


We start by determining the location and shape of the fracture, the
fracture pattern, which helps us determine the best way to treat
the injury. Sometimes the two parts of the fractured bone have Will my child be in pain?
moved too far apart from each other or have rotated. This is called
Soreness is usually at its worst in the first few days through the
a displaced fracture, and surgery may be needed to put the bones
first week. Pain from soreness can be treated with acetaminophen
in the proper position to heal.
(Tylenol®) or ibuprofen (Advil®) as needed. Always talk with your
In most cases, your child will have a cast or an Aircast® boot to provider about allergies your child may have before giving over-
protect their foot once we know the bones are in the best position the-counter medication.
to heal. If the bone has just a small crack, your child may be able
If your child has surgery, we may prescribe a small amount of
to walk in the cast or boot.
prescription pain medicine if appropriate.
For fractures like a Jones fracture, or if more than one metatarsal is
fractured, we will likely give your child crutches. They should not walk
or bear weight on that foot. How should I care for my child’s foot?
Most metatarsal fractures heal enough to be out of a cast or boot Foot fractures often swell, so it is very important to keep the foot
in three to six weeks, but this will depend on the fracture pattern raised (toes above the nose). Elevating the foot like this helps keep
and your child’s age. Metatarsal fractures in toddlers tend to be less swelling from drifting down and getting stuck in the toes. A good
severe and heal quickly. Adolescents and teenagers may need to be way to elevate the foot while sleeping is to put extra pillows or
immobilized a little longer to ensure the bone is completely healed. blankets under the mattress at the foot of the bed.
Can we ice the injured foot? Will my child need physical therapy or
Yes. If your child is in a boot, it can be opened or taken off to treatments after bracing/casting?
apply ice (15 minutes on, 15 minutes off). This will also help Your child probably will not need physical therapy and should get
with swelling. back to full strength and movement within one to two weeks after
the cast/brace comes off.
A bag of frozen peas or a plastic bag with ice works well. Be
careful with chemical ice packs, as they can get very cold very For patients looking to return to sports, and for adolescents and
quickly and cause frostbite. Also, the chemicals inside the packs teenagers that had to be non-weight bearing for a few weeks,
can be harmful if the pack breaks. we do commonly prescribe physical therapy to help strengthen
the foot and ankle, which will help with overall recovery and
return to activity.
Can my child be active?
Your child should not participate in activities where there is a
risk of falling or getting a direct hit to the fractured bone(s). This When should I follow up?
includes activities like: Your child probably will have x-rays at the first visit and again in
• playing on playground structures (i.e. jungle gyms or swing sets) three to four weeks.
• contact sports like basketball, hockey or soccer
• horseback riding, ice skating or skiing When should I contact the office?
If your provider recommends that your child be non-weight Call us if your child has:
bearing, they should not walk on the foot until cleared to do so. • pain that increases quickly and without warning
• swelling with no new fall or injury
How long will my child be out of sports? • new redness and warmth over the foot with new fevers, chills or
nausea (feeling sick)
We will assess your child and make recommendations based on
how the injury looks and the potential injury risks of the sport your • pain that does not get better after taking acetaminophen
child plays. (Tylenol®) or ibuprofen (Advil®)
• numbness and inability to wiggle the toes
Your child probably will not play contact sports or do playground
activities for six to 12 weeks. These could be signs of a different problem, and we may direct
you to take your child to our clinic or the emergency department.

Notes

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Produced by Boston Children’s Hospital Orthopedics and Sports


Medicine Center. For more information or to request an appointment
visit BostonChildrens.org/OrthoUrgentCare.

© 2019, Boston Children’s Hospital | #19838

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