You can have an online consultation with James. This is not medical advice, and we recommend a consultation with a medical professional such as James McCormack to achieve a diagnosis. A period of immobilization is usually required, followed by 6-8 weeks of Physical Therapy. Surgery is often in the form of fixation or bone graft. In a minority of cases, a fracture may regress, and a more extended period of immobilization is recommended, or surgery may be required. High tensile forces on the plantar-lateral aspect of the fifth metatarsal are difficult to control, and intramedullary screw fixation. Intramedullary screw fixation remains the most used construct despite nonunion and refracture. Your consultant may recommend a repeat x-ray as this can identify if there are signs of healing at the fracture site. Proximal fifth metatarsal fractures, zones II and III, are commonly treated surgically, especially in elite athletes. Treatment is either immobilization or surgery depending on location of fracture, degree of displacement, and athletic level of patient. These injuries usually heal without any issues, but this does not occur in some circumstances and an operation is required. 5th metatarsal base fractures are common traumatic fractures among athletic populations that are notorious for nonunion due to tenuous blood supply. If you are wearing a walker boot and relatively resting from activity, but your pain worsens, you should return to the Fracture Clinic. What should I do if my metatarsal fracture is getting worse? However, in most cases, patients are placed in a cast or aircast walker boot, which significantly increases their recovery rate and reduces the risk of non-union. It is possible for a simple 5th metatarsal fracture to heal without a cast, and this can often occur in patients who didn’t realise they had a fracture. Related Article: Best Running Shoes after 5th Metatarsal FractureĬan a broken 5th metatarsal heal with no cast? Wearing supportive, cushioned footwear when returning to running is one of the most important factors alongside your rehabilitation. A running gait analysis before returning to running is essential to identify any factors in your gait that may lead to an overload of your 5th metatarsal. Running could commence on a treadmill initially, as it has some cushioning and then progress to flat smooth surfaces outdoors. We usually recommend that our patients practice hopping on one foot for 3 x 45 seconds if there is no pain, they can progress onto running. It is recommended to begin with pain-free walking followed by a hopping protocol before returning to running after a 5th metatarsal injury to reduce the risk of recurrence. You can return to running 6-8 weeks after your initial diagnosis of a 5th metatarsal fracture if there are no complications during your recovery.ĭepending on the fracture location and size, some athletes can return to running 6 weeks after a simple stress fracture to the 5th metatarsal, but complex fractures may require up to 8-10 weeks. How soon can I run after a 5th metatarsal fracture?
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