

In order to treat a displaced fracture, the bones need to be lined up and stabilized using some kind of metal pinning or plating.

Displaced or not displacedĪ displaced fracture is one where, following the break, the bones slip out of line. Open fractures cause more damage to the soft tissues around it making treatment and healing more complicated.
TREATMENT FOR METATARSAL FRACTURE SKIN
Open or closedĪn open fracture is when the skin is broken over the fracture so that there is a route of possible infection from the outside into the broken bones. An acute metatarsal fracture can be open or closed, and displaced or not displaced. Types of Metatarsal FracturesĪcute fractures are caused by a direct blow or impact, while stress fractures occur over a long period of time. The first, second, and fifth metatarsals are the ones most frequently injured in sports. It may break at various points along its length, depending on the type of injury. The fifth metatarsal bone is the most common to be fractured in sudden (acute) injury to the foot. The fifth metatarsal is the long bone on the outside of the foot that connects to the little toe. This may be due to sudden injury (an acute fracture) or repeated stress (a stress fracture).
TREATMENT FOR METATARSAL FRACTURE CRACKED
A metatarsal fracture occurs when one of the long bones of the midfoot is cracked or broken. They are long, slim bones that run the lengths of the foot to the base of the toes. There are five metatarsal bones in each foot. The sooner you seek treatment the sooner you can begin your road to recovery.The structure of the foot is complex, consisting of bones, muscles, tendons, and other soft tissues. If you are experiencing symptoms of a broken bone after a fall, accident or injury then it’s time to schedule an immediate appointment with a podiatrist. Those with stress fractures will want to avoid any activity that causes repetitive stress on the foot, to prevent the stress fracture from getting worse. If the break is severe enough your podiatrist may recommend surgery, but surgery is rarely necessary for treating broken toes. You may also experience chronic pain or be at an increased risk for arthritis.Ĭommon ways to treat a traumatic fracture include rest, splinting, or tapping toe affected toe, custom-made shoe inserts and wearing rigid footwear such as a special boot or shoe that provides the foot with protection, support, and cushioning. Not treating the broken bone could lead to certain deformities, which can greatly impact mobility. This is why it’s always best to play it safe and to schedule an immediate evaluation with a foot and ankle specialist if you have experienced a traumatic foot injury that you suspect has led to one or more broken metatarsals. Some people assume that if they can walk on their foot then they must not be dealing with a broken metatarsal, but this is simply not true. A metatarsal that has sustained a stress fracture may also be tender to the touch. Since stress fractures occur over time as a result of overuse you may start to notice foot pain with your routine activities or pain that goes away with rest but is exacerbated by physical activity. Symptoms of a stress fracture will be a bit different from traumatic fractures.
