|
| |
Metatarsal Stress Fracture
A stress fracture is a break in a bone cause by
repetitive stress. It may occur in any bone, but is quite common in the metatarsal
bones of the foot. There is often no recollection of injury. The patient may
simply develop a painful forefoot after some activity, such a walking, sports,
or stooping down onto the ball of the foot. A small crack develops in the cortex
(outer shell) of the bone. Without proper treatment, this may progress
to a "through and through" (overt) fracture of the bone.
The second and third metatarsals are the most commonly affected. Metatarsal
stress fracture may not become apparent on x-rays until a few weeks after the
injury.
Symptoms
 | Sharp pain in the forefoot, aggravated by walking
| Tenderness to pressure on the top surface of a metatarsal bone.
| Diffuse swelling of the skin over the forefoot.
|
| |
Causes
| Decreased density of the bones (eg. osteoporosis)
| Unusual stress on a metatarsal due to malposition or another forefoot
deformity (eg. bunion)
| Abnormal foot structure or mechanics (eg. flatfoot)
| Increased levels of activity, especially without proper conditioning
| Obesity
|
| | | |
What you can do
| Seek professional help as soon as possible
| Keep weight off the foot
| Ice the top surface of the forefoot for about 20 minuets every hour.
| To reduce swelling, wrap the foot in a elastic bandage with moderate
compression.
| Wear a shoe with a very stiff sole.
|
| | | |
What the doctor may do
| Take x-rays to look for fracture
| Order special diagnostic bone scans to establish a questionable diagnosis
| Apply orthopedic taping and padding to relieve stress from the
metatarsals.
| Dispense a surgical/ trauma shoe to
splint the foot.
| Prescribe medication for pain and inflammation.
| Use physical therapy in the later stages of healing.
| Occasionally a walking cast is necessary.
|
| | | | | |
Other causes of forefoot pain
| Morton's neuroma (benign
tumor of a nerve running between the metatarsals)
| Metatarsalgia (painful and inflammation of the
metatarsal bones and their soft tissue sheath)
| Capsulitis (painful and inflammation of the joints
between the metatarsal bones and toes)
| Tendonitis (inflammation of the tendons which
course along the top of the foot)
| Dislocation of a joint between a metatarsal and a
toe (metatarsal-phalangeal joint)
| Severe plantar callus(callus on bottom of the
foot) or bursitis(an inflamed fluid-filled
sac often between a bone and an area of pressure) |
| | | | |
View x-ray images of metatarsal
stress fracture
|
