Jones Fracture - Xray Image Attached - Surgery?

Elizabeth stop hitting yourself over the head, I did as I was told, no weight bearing and I wore a cast, the gap between the fracture still moved apart. My surgeon told me this sometimes happens, it could be that it moved or it could be that it didn't show up as well in the first x-ray.

Sophie, my x-ray looked very like yours but the gap was much larger in mine, I also broke my ankle at the same time. I was originally told to let it heal conservatively, but it moved and I was told by two different Drs that the gap was too large to form a union so I had it done two weeks after the original fracture. At week 15 I'm still using crutches, partial weight bearing, and gradually moving away from using the boot.

It's one of those odd things, a little bit one way and your break is in an area that heals well, a little bit the other way and it doesn't get enough blood. Then of course your age and health comes into it. I couldn't be!have I went from A&E where they said I had minor fracture (crack) to a week later being told by the surgeon I'd done a right job on myself, both fractures through the joints meant I'd have arthritis in them and I needed a screw in the 5th metatarsal. My husband (whose never broken a bone) told me I'd be OK in six weeks, I still can't walk without crutches 16 weeks later.

Goodness, Susan, I am so sorry! I hope that the rest of the healing process goes ok for you  

I was walking in the kitchen earlier with the boot and slipped on something wet and felt something move where I hurt my foot... it is now swollen and bruised again so I'm pretty terrified that I did more damage to it. Going back to doctor on Wednesday... I'm hoping it's not bad news

Hope you're OK, I slipped on a wet floor the day after my original accident, stubbed my toe on one of my crutches and fractured it, thankfully on the other foot and it just got taped to the one next to it.

Hi was just reading your message here...mine is almost same story so did you heal your fracture and was it okay walking without boot seeing that the bone has only heall inside part. Thanks for your tepaly

Even surgery doesn't guarantee a union, I've had a screw in mine since week 2, now on week 20 and still no union.

Oh no that is not good news!! What does your doc now plan to do? How are you coping? 

Hi Sharon, I have a 5th met jones fracture and I had surgery almost right away - week three. I did not NWB right away because of partial denial and my second xray showed a worsening of the healing, so my surgeon suggested surgery right away. I have a screw and plate. Frankly, I have such a cautious surgeon, I think I would have had surgery even if my foot did not worsen. But the good news is that I was total NWB for 5 weeks and my xray on week 7 showed bone growth. I've been wearing an airboot for 3 weeks now and after a week of aching, it is now rather comfortable. I put my foot up for almost the whole evening at the end of the day though. I see my surgeon again at the end of the month and suspect I'll have to wear the boot for a couple of more weeks. I'm not sure why I was fast- tracked to surgery but I'm not unhappy about it. It did take the guessing out of it and recovery recommendations seems the same as without it. But, I do have a screw and plate but was told that should not be problematic. Going through NWB recovery seemed like an eternity. I can't imagine a re-do because I didn't heal right. But... I've learned that there is nothing fast about bone healing. I am one that was happy with the cut-to-the-chase treatment of surgery.

I broke my ankle as well as the 5th metatarsal, that shows union but the fracture's still there, Dr is hopeful that full weight bearing will encourage bone growth. Originally I was to have the screw in the 5th metatarsal taken out after it healed now they are talking about leaving it in, however the rash I had just on the scar has now spread all over and my GP thinks I may be allergic to the screw. Typical, I have a tendency towards allergies, have to take antihistamines every day or I'm covered in urticaria (hives).

I go back to clinic in 10 weeks, in the mean time I carry on with the physio.

It may not guarantee a union but it's a hell of a lot higher chance. I think surgery is just smarter to do if you can afford to miss too much work. The piece of mind that something is holding your bone in place, keeping it from bending and further damage. As you know it depends on your age and health as well. I would only discourage surgery if the patient is young or its a hairline fracture that doesn't go all the way through.