Jones Fracture: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

Date: Jan-06-2017 A Jones fracture refers to a break between the base and shaft of the fifth metatarsal bone of the foot. The fifth metatarsal is the long bone on the outside of the foot. It is connected to the smallest toe.

A Jones fracture is the most common type of metatarsal fracture, and it is the most serious type of fracture than can occur in this bone.

This particular fracture is named for the orthopedic surgeon, Sir Robert Jones, who first reported and treated the injury in 1902.

Contents of this article:

What is a Jones fracture?

Types of fractures in the fifth metatarsal

Treatment and recovery

What is a Jones fracture?

A Jones fracture occurs on the fifth metatarsal of the foot.

A Jones fracture occurs in a region known as the metaphyseal-diaphyseal junction. This is the area between the base and shaft of the fifth metatarsal. This area receives less blood than other areas in the foot, making healing difficult.

This type of fracture normally results from stress on the bone caused by repeated motion, but it may also be caused by a sudden acute injury.

What are metatarsals?

The metatarsal bones are the long bones on the top of the foot that connect the ankle with the toes. There are five metatarsals in each foot. Each metatarsal bone has a base located next to the heel, a shaft, a neck and a head.

The fifth metatarsal is the metatarsal on the outside of the foot that connects the ankle with the little toe.

It is slightly different from the other metatarsal bones. It bulges slightly at its base, while the other metatarsals do not.

The metatarsal bones help people balance while standing and walking. Because these bones get so much use, it's very easy to injure them through overuse. Sudden acute injuries of the metatarsals are common after a sudden impact or severe twist of the foot.

Symptoms of a Jones fracture

A Jones fracture has many of the same symptoms as other types of fractures. A person with a Jones fracture may know they have injured the foot right away if the injury is sudden and causes immediate symptoms. These symptoms include:

Pain and swelling on the outside of the foot at the base of the little toe

Difficulty walking

Bruising

Types of fractures in the fifth metatarsal

There are three basic types of fractures in the fifth metatarsal, including Jones fractures.

The other two types of common fractures in the metatarsals include:

Avulsion fracture. This fracture often happens with ankle sprains and occurs at the base of the fifth metatarsal. It normally happens when there is a traumatic pulling of a tendon or ligament from the end of the metatarsal. The fracture is always transverse, with a horizontal fracture line, and it usually results in little to no displacement.

Spiral or oblique shaft fracture. This type of fracture happens closer to the fifth toe and is caused by trauma or stress placed on the bone. This fracture is very unstable and may result in displacement.

When to see a doctor

A suspected Jones fracture should be presented to a healthcare professional who may take an X-ray to diagnose the pain.

Anyone who suspects they have a fracture should see a foot and ankle specialist as soon as possible.

In cases of an acute injury, medical care should be sought promptly. A patient with a Jones fracture should also seek medical attention immediately if they develop any of the following symptoms:

A worsening of swelling, pain, numbness, or tingling in the affected leg, ankle, or foot

Purple skin on the leg or foot

Fever

Diagnosis

A medical professional can give an accurate diagnosis of a Jones or other metatarsal fracture, and they can provide appropriate treatment.

A Jones fracture can be troublesome and is often difficult to heal, so proper management is key. Proper treatment depends on proper diagnosis.

To make a formal diagnosis of a Jones fracture, the surgeon will do the following:

Ask about how the injury happened or when the pain started

Examine the foot

Assess the location of the pain by pressing on different areas of the foot

Take X-rays and other possible imaging studies of the foot to see the fracture

Treatment and recovery

Properly caring for a Jones fracture can begin even while waiting for a doctor's care. As soon as pain is experienced, a patient should follow the RICE method.

This includes:

Resting the injury

Icing areas with pain and swelling

Compressing the affected area

Elevating the injured foot

For a Jones fracture, these methods are only meant as a measure to prevent the affected area from getting worse.

A doctor will immobilize the foot in a cast, cast boot, or stiff-soled shoe and may recommend surgery.

The treatment for a Jones fracture depends on several factors including:

The patient's activity level

The severity of the break

The overall health of the patient

A Jones fracture can be slow to heal. A person with this type of fracture may need to wear a cast for longer than initially recommended.

There is evidence, however, that patients who undergo surgery for the fracture may heal faster than those who do not.

Surgery

A cast boot may be used before surgery to immobilize the foot.

Because a Jones fracture is often slow or resistant to healing, and there is a risk of reinjury, surgeons commonly operate on these fractures by repairing the break with a screw, rod, or plate.

The incision required to repair a Jones fracture is very small. This means that the surgery can be done as an outpatient procedure under general or local anesthesia.

During the procedure, the surgeon uses X-rays to ensure proper screw placement. The screw crosses the site of the fracture and squeezes the ends of it together.

Sometimes, bone grafting may be needed, particularly in chronic fractures that have not healed with other treatment. In these cases, a separate incision may be needed to insert the bone graft.

Complications

Because of the limited blood flow to the area, a Jones fracture has a higher likelihood of not healing than other metatarsal fractures, unless surgical treatment is given.

Of those treated nonsurgically, 15 to 20 percent of fractures may not heal. Other complications may include:

Problems related to surgery and anesthesia such as blood clots

Need for repeated surgery

Refracturing after healing

Muscle atrophy

Continued pain

Outlook

The healing time for a Jones fracture varies based on the treatment method, the severity of the fracture, and the patient.

Depending on the surgeon and the type of fracture, the person may not be allowed to put weight on the injured foot for the first 1 to 2 weeks after the surgery.

In some cases, a person with a Jones fracture may be allowed to bear weight through the heel for up to 6 weeks, depending on the severity of the fracture. After that, a weight-bearing walking boot is generally allowed.

A person who has had surgery to repair a Jones fracture can expect a return to all activity, including sports, 3-4 months after surgery. However, the doctor may recommend a period of physical therapy to recondition the injured area.

More severe fractures that require bone grafting may have longer recovery times.

Tips and exercises for a good recovery

Keeping weight off the foot as long as recommended

Elevating the foot as much as possible while seated

Icing the injury for 20 minutes at a time several times a day

Managing any pain with ibuprofen after the first 24 hours

Following all of the doctor's recommendations and guidelines

If a patient follows the doctor's suggestions, they will have a higher chance of successfully recovering from a Jones fracture.

Written by Jenna Fletcher

Courtesy: Medical News Today Note: Any medical information available in this news section is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a health care professional.