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Aging News & Information
Senior Citizens Accustomed to Sore Feet May Overlook
Foot Fracture
Pain on outside of foot can indicate broken bone
needing treatment
 May
17, 2007 It has been said that if there is anything certain about old
age, it is sore feet. Raymond Rapier, 70-year-old retiree, wasn't like a
lot of people accustomed to sore feet. He knew his foot was broken.
"Darn right it hurt," he said, ranking the pain an 11 on a scale of one
to 10, comparing it to smacking your thumb with a hammer. But not all
foot fractures are as painful as Raymonds.
Raymond was working on his computer one Saturday
morning when his wife opened a door to step outside their North Carolina
home. But she forgot their burglar alarm was activated. The siren
blared, and Raymond jumped up to turn it off. His left foot slipped on
the floor and shot forward under the desk. It slammed into the corner.
The pain was immediate and intense.
Raymond survived the weekend taking pain relief
pills and hopping around on an old pair of crutches. Monday morning, he
phoned the foot and ankle surgeon he sees for diabetes care and made an
appointment.
Several hours later, Raymond found himself in the
Suffolk, Va. examining room of Matthew Dairman, DPM, FACFAS. Dairman
diagnosed a fifth metatarsal fracture, which is a break in the long bone
on the outside of the foot that connects to the little toe.
Many people break the same foot bone as Raymond but
don't realize they're injured. Not all fifth metatarsal fractures are as
sudden and painful as his experience.
The American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS)
says people who feel pain on the outside of their foot should seek
prompt treatment. Walking on or failing to treat a fractured fifth
metatarsal can lead to complications including bone deformities, failure
to heal, arthritis and chronic pain.
According to the ACFAS consumer Web site
FootPhysicans.com, symptoms of a fractured fifth metatarsal include
pain, swelling and tenderness, difficulty walking, and occasional
bruising. Most people walk on the outside of their feet, making this
metatarsal particularly vulnerable. Avulsion fractures and Jones
fractures are the most common injuries to this bone.
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What is a Fifth Metatarsal
Fracture? |
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Fractures (breaks) are common in the fifth
metatarsalthe long bone on the outside of the foot that
connects to the little toe. Two types of fractures that often
occur in the fifth metatarsal are:
● Avulsion fracture. In an avulsion
fracture, a small piece of bone is pulled off the main portion
of the bone by a tendon or ligament. This type of fracture is
the result of an inversion injury, in which the ankle rolls
inward. Avulsion fractures are often overlooked when they occur
with an ankle sprain.
● Jones fracture. Jones fractures occur
in a small area of the fifth metatarsal that receives less blood
and is therefore more prone to injury. A Jones fracture can be
either a stress fracture (a tiny hairline break that occurs over
time) or an acute (sudden) break. Jones fractures are caused by
overuse, repetitive stress, or trauma. They are less common and
more difficult to treat than avulsion fractures.
Other types of fractures can occur in the fifth
metatarsal. Examples include mid-shaft fractures, which usually
result from trauma or twisting, and fractures of the metatarsal
head and neck. |
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Raymond suffered an avulsion fracture. This happens
when the ankle rolls inward, as during an ankle sprain. There's a major
tendon attached to the base of the metatarsal. When it's yanked hard, it
doesn't tear but instead can pull a chunk of bone loose. Avulsion
fractures are often overlooked when they occur with an ankle sprain.
Three days after he was diagnosed, Raymond went to
a local hospital where Dairman made a small incision and inserted a
screw to keep the broken section of bone stable while it heals. The
procedure took 20 minutes and Raymond was in and out within two hours.
Readers of sports news often hear of an athlete
having a Jones fracture, which can be caused by trauma, overuse or
repetitive stress. These breaks happen in a small area of the fifth
metatarsal that receives less blood supply, making it more prone to
injury and slower to heal.
Even something as simple as walking can cause tiny
hairline breaks to gradually develop in the fifth metatarsal, along with
dull or lingering pain. Eventually the small breaks in the bone grow and
snap.
Pain on the outside of the foot is not normal.
Anyone who has symptoms of a fifth metatarsal fracture should see a foot
and ankle surgeon as soon as possible for proper diagnosis and
treatment. If you cannot see a physician immediately, use rest, ice,
compression and elevation to control the pain.
Raymond suffers from diabetes so his fracture will
take a little longer to heal. Dairman has him wear a cast boot --
Raymond calls it his "space boot" -- and recommends he avoid walking.
But he can still drive.
"Fortunately it was my left foot and not my right
foot," Raymond says, "And my vehicle's an automatic."
Source: American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons
The American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS)
is a professional society of more than 6,000 foot and ankle surgeons.
Founded in 1942, the College's mission is to promote research and
provide continuing education for the foot and ankle surgical specialty,
and to educate the general public on foot health and conditions of the
foot and ankle through its consumer website,
http://www.footphysicians.com/.
Web site:
http://www.acfas.org/
http://www.footphysicians.com/
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