The big foot bogey: base of 5th metatarsal fracture.

There has always been confusion about fractures of the base of the 5th MT. Often all fractures in this region are labeled "Jones fractures", and this is problematic, because a Jones fracture is a serious sports medical issue, and very removed from a straightforward stress fracture or cortical fracture of the MT shaft. Foundation Member Sarah asked me what the implication are..

Fractures of the 5th metatarsal command attention, both for their often complex nature and the confusion existing over their classification.  The least common fracture of the 5th metatarsal is the acute spiral fracture of the base and diaphysis, usually sustained after a fall or severe inversion injury with superimposed load.  These fractures usually heal uneventfully, dependent upon displacement and rotation, and are managed with a weight bearing below knee cast.  The remaining fracture of the 5th metatarsal have perhaps been best classified by Lawrence and Botte.  They described three distinct fracture types around the proximal 1/3rd of the 5th metatarsal;