5th Metatarsal Base Fractures

Summary

There are two types of 5th Metatarsal base fractures:

Avulsion Fractures (Dancer's Fractures)

Stress Fractures (Jones' Fractures)

Dancer's fractures are the most common representing 90-95% of all 5th metatarsal base fractures (Figure 1A). They occur when the ankle is rolled and one of the ligaments attaching to the base of the 5th metatarsal pulls off this part of the bone. Most of these fractures are stable and can be treated without surgery. However, they often take a number of months to heal.

Figure 1A: Dancer's Fracture

Jones' fractures are stress fractures of the base of the 5th metatarsal (Figure 1B). Like other stress fractures Jones' fractures occur in a manner that is similar to the way that you would break a paper clip (by wiggling it back and forth over and over again). They often occur after repetitive activities (e.g. sports). They tend to occur in people that have a high arched foot shape or a lower extremity alignment that tends to load the outside of the foot. Often Jones' fractures can be treated without surgery. However, they have a tendency to recur because even after they have healed the underlying reason why they occurred (loading pattern of the foot) is still present. Therefore surgical treatment of a Jones' fracture is not uncommon.

Figure 1B: Jones' Fracture

Edited September 5th, 2009