Manhattan Podiatry Group • Broken Metatarsals, Jones Fractures & Stress Fractures
The five metatarsals are the long bones that run from the middle of the foot to the toes. They carry your weight with every step, which makes them one of the most commonly broken bones in the foot.
A metatarsal can break suddenly, from rolling an ankle off a curb, a fall, or something heavy landing on the foot, or gradually, as a stress fracture from repetitive pounding on city pavement. At Manhattan Podiatry Group, Dr. Mark Sharobeem, DPM, evaluates and treats metatarsal fractures for patients across Manhattan, from boot-based care to surgical fixation when a fracture needs it.
Our office at 55 Broadway, Suite 602 is minutes from the Financial District’s subway lines, so a suspected break can be evaluated and protected quickly.
If your foot is swollen, bruised, or painful to walk on after an injury, or if pain on the top of the foot keeps building with activity, get it checked. Walking on an untreated fracture can displace the bone and delay healing.
* Seek emergency care for an obvious deformity, a bone through the skin, numbness, or a cold or pale foot. Related injuries: Lisfranc injuries and foot & ankle trauma.
Fracture
Surgical Fixation
When a metatarsal fracture is displaced or unlikely to heal well on its own, Dr. Sharobeem can realign the bone and hold it with a plate and screws while it heals. Patient X-rays shared with permission. Individual results vary.
Breaks of the outer (fifth) metatarsal are very common, often from rolling the ankle. A Jones fracture, in a zone of the bone with limited blood supply, tends to heal more slowly and may need closer protection or surgery.
Tiny cracks that build up from repetitive impact, such as a jump in walking or running, new shoes, or long days on hard pavement. Pain usually starts gradually and worsens with activity. The second and third metatarsals are commonly affected.
Dr. Sharobeem examines the foot for pinpoint tenderness and swelling and takes X-rays. Early stress fractures may not show on the first X-ray, so follow-up imaging or an MRI is sometimes needed to confirm the diagnosis.
Many metatarsal fractures heal with protection alone: a walking boot or stiff-soled shoe, a period of limited weight-bearing, and follow-up X-rays to confirm healing. Some fractures, including many Jones fractures, need a cast and stricter non-weight-bearing.
Surgery may be recommended when the bone is displaced, several metatarsals are broken, a Jones fracture occurs in an athlete, or a fracture fails to heal. Fixation uses screws or a plate to hold the bone in position. For slow-healing fractures, bone growth stimulation can support healing.
Sometimes, but walking on it before it is evaluated and protected can shift the bone and slow healing. Some fractures allow walking in a boot, while others, such as many Jones fractures, require keeping weight off the foot. Get it examined before deciding.
Many metatarsal fractures heal in about six to eight weeks with proper protection. Jones fractures and fractures that need surgery can take longer. Follow-up X-rays confirm when it is safe to return to normal shoes and activity.
Surgery is considered when the bone is out of position, several metatarsals are broken, a Jones fracture occurs in an active patient, or a fracture is not healing. Dr. Sharobeem will explain whether boot care or fixation is the better option for you.
Dr. Mark Sharobeem, DPM, provides targeted conservative and surgical care at our Financial District practice. Click any condition below to explore symptoms and treatment options.
Request a free consultation with Dr. Mark Sharobeem, DPM, at 55 Broadway, Suite 602, New York, NY 10006.