What are the Treatments for Metatarsal Fractures?
A metatarsal fracture, more commonly known as a broken toe, can be painful and debilitating. These injuries are typically the result of repeated and prolonged stress on the foot, but they can also occur due to trauma, such as landing badly from a jump or an object falling on the toe.
Here’s what to know about metatarsal fractures and how they’re treated.
Different Types of Metatarsal Fractures
The foot is a complex structure. There are tendons, muscles, soft tissue, and 28 bones, 19 of which are toe bones or phalanges. The metatarsal bones are the long bones in the midfoot that connects the hindfoot to the phalanges.
Like all fractures, metatarsal fractures can be divided into two categories:
Displaced: The broken bone fragments are aligned with each other.
Non-displaced: The bone has broken in a way that the bone has changed position, and the fragments are misaligned.
These fractures can be acute, caused by a direct impact or blow to the foot, or stress fractures. Stress fractures in the metatarsal are often found in runners who increase their running mileage too quickly.
Symptoms for acute and stress fractures are different. For example, in an acute fracture, the patient often reports:
Hearing the snap of the bone-breaking
Pain at the place of the fracture that will linger and sometimes disappear
Swelling and bruising that appears the following day
Deformity in the toe
On the other hand, symptoms of metatarsal stress fractures include:
Pain during or after activity
Pain while standing
Pain at the site of the fracture when touched
Swelling
Although some fractures are more severe than others, one should never “push through the pain.” Even the most minor metatarsal fractures require treatment to heal correctly and avoid further complications.
Treament of Metatarsal Fracutres
The majority of broken metatarsal bones can be treated nonsurgically. At his practice in Vail-Summit Orthopaedics & Neurosurgery, Dr. Elton and his expert foot and ankle team may recommend the following conservative treatment methods:
Activity Modification
Rest
Splitting
Walking Boot
Stiff Soled Shoe
Toe Taping
Certain metatarsal fractures can require surgery. A break at the base of the 5th metatarsal, which is along the outside of your foot, is called a Jones fracture and could warrant surgical intervention to prevent the development of additional orthopaedic issues. Dr. Elton may also recommend surgery if the patient is an athlete who performs at a high level.
Other times surgery is required for a metatarsal fracture include:
Fractures were the bone has broken through the skin
Dis-placed fractures
Fractures involving the 1st metatarsal
During metatarsal surgery, the bone fragments will be realigned and temporarily held in place with pins. The pins will be removed about two months after your initial surgery.
If metatarsal surgery is needed, Dr. Elton will usually recommend keeping weight off the foot for six to eight weeks to allow the fracture to heal correctly. Sometimes your foot will be placed in a hard cast or boot for additional support.
Metatarsal fractures typically heal completely, and most patients can resume their pre-fracture activities without complications.
Midfoot Pain? Contact Team Elton Today!
If you are experiencing foot pain or have been diagnosed with a metatarsal fracture, contact Dr. Elton and his team today! Don’t wait: failure to treat a metatarsal injury could lead to chronic pain, deformity, or arthritis.
Schedule your appointment at one of Dr. Elton’s three convenient clinic locations by calling (970) 476-7220 or through his online contact form. Let’s get you back on your feet!