| Metatarsal Fracture Explained | | | | stress fracture of the 2nd metatarsal heals well |
| One of the most common injuries in the history | | | | while the healing of the stress fracture of the 5th |
| of sports is the metatarsal fracture. This kind of | | | | metatarsal can be a lot of problem. |
| injury has been very prevalent in football in the | | | | How Do We Know Its Metatarsal Fracture? |
| past 5 years. Several high- profiled footballers | | | | A severe foot pain and difficulty to walk usually |
| suffered from the same injury- David Beckham, | | | | entails metatarsal fracture. Swelling may also be |
| Wayne Rooney, Ashley Cole, and Steve Gerrard. | | | | common and bruising will be evident after1-2 days. |
| The anatomy of the foot will however help us | | | | How Do We Treat Metatarsal Fracture? |
| understand this injury better and deeper. | | | | The patient should be headed directly to the |
| Metatarsal bones are long and slender bones | | | | emergency room for treatment if metatarsal |
| found in between the Tarsal bone and the | | | | fracture is suspected. The doctor will confirm the |
| Phalanges. There are 5 Metatarsal bones in each | | | | diagnosis with an X-ray. Ice therapy is a good help |
| foot. These bones act like a rigid lever in the | | | | in dealing with pain and pain medications are |
| propulsion of the ankle and the foot. It also acts | | | | necessary. The Aircast Ankle and Foot Cryo/ |
| like a flexible structure that will help in balance and | | | | Cuff is the best way to give ice packs effectively |
| holding up the entire body. | | | | by providing continuous compression for 6 hours. |
| Metatarsal fractures are caused by direct trauma, | | | | The terminal treatment for this injury varies on |
| overuse and excessive rotation. Bone injuries like | | | | the type and condition of the fracture. Alignment |
| this are very common since there is a very little | | | | and treatment with an immobilization cast is |
| soft tissue that protects the top of the foot. | | | | greatly appreciated in fractures caused by direct |
| Four anatomic segments divide the fifth | | | | trauma. |
| metatarsal. These are the base, the junction, the | | | | A removable plastic cast is used for stress |
| shaft, and the neck. Several fractures can be | | | | fractures of the 2nd metatarsal and rotational |
| made out of these segments. | | | | fracture of the 5th metatarsal. However, many |
| Fracture of the fifth metatarsal is the most | | | | orthopedist advocates surgical repair of the |
| common metatarsal injuries. This results from the | | | | fracture. This method will allow the patient to |
| twisting of the ankle. This kind of fracture | | | | resume sports activities possibly after 6 weeks. |
| doesn’t need to be surgically repaired. | | | | How Do We Prevent Metatarsal Fracture? |
| Walking immediately in a removable plastic cast is | | | | Very little thing can be done to this kind of injury |
| usually advised. | | | | especially when force is applied to the foot during |
| Metatarsal fractures can be caused by overuse. It | | | | a traumatic injury. Yet, it is very necessary to |
| is common in new army recruits and athletes. A | | | | wear suitable footwear to provide protection to |
| stress fracture will eventually turn into full fracture | | | | the foot. |
| when the pain in the groin region worsens. The | | | | |