OPTIONS FOR NON-UNION 5TH METATARSAL FRACTURE?
Posted , 21 users are following.
Hoping someone has had a similar experience and might be able to give me some advice!
Over 4 months ago I broke my 5th metatarsal......I went to the local hospital, was told I needed to see the ortho surgeon, waited 5 hours, then sent home with a boot, no instruction and didn't see the ortho. 2 weeks later I had a follow up appointment at the ortho clinic at the hospital with follow up xray.....once again, ortho was busy, didn't look at my foot or xray and popped his head into the room to basically tell me i was ok and to see my own doctor in 4 weeks. 4 weeks later another x-ray, which seemed to show it was healing but had some way to go. Another 6 weeks in the boot, then x-rayed again yesterday, and that x-ray showed it has now stopped healing and is non-union.
I'm very angry with the hospital as reading what I have above it seems I should have been told not to put weight on it for at least some time.
This morning my doc is arranging an appointment with a surgeon but I will not let them do surgery as I've had many life threatening drug reactions in the past. Are there going to be other options for me?
1 like, 55 replies
Guest naomi44083
Posted
Guest naomi44083
Posted
Hi Naomi and others, I am wondering what you ended up doing. I am about 5 months out from a spiral fracture of the 5th metatarsal. One doctor has said it is a fibrous union and I don't need surgery, the second has said it is a nonunion and I should get surgery. I am at my wits end trying to understand what will have a better long term outcome.
adrienne56S naomi44083
Posted
cazza1956 naomi44083
Posted
Hi I have just been told after 14 weeks tibial & fibula breck 2 plates & 12 screws later I have none union bone am 17 weeks to day been put on bone stimulator so hopefully I will not need other op but my question is am back in my air case boot and crutches doing PWB should I be NWB
scu98rkr naomi44083
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10.5 weeks into a jones fracture and another fibrous non-union. very little displament or pain. would be really good to hear what happened to the people with fibrous union / non union did it clear up ?
sandi27417 scu98rkr
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I had a stress fracture of my 5th 4 years ago. MY foot physician told me if there is no healing in 6 weeks there most likely would not be so I returned in 5, not much healing so "we" decided a pin would be the best option. 4 weeks NWB then 4 in a walking boot then back on my horse. the doctor made sure I had a bone stimulator after surgery. I was 65 at the time!! after 3 months never had pain!! i would go for surgery and be done with it
scu98rkr
Posted
To give an update as people dont seem to.
Finally seen all the xrays in order.
The reason I was not operated on to begin with is the initial (week 0) Xray seemed to show a hairline fracture in the Jones region. But it went pretty much the whole way through the 5th metatarsal.
I should of been immediately given a boot. (I brought my self about a week later)
I dont know why, maybe the swelling was holding it together? but by week 6 outer edge had opened up and gaped. (ie it had got worse) The inner edge was healing.
(Another reason might be I have quite wide feet, my shoes are always pushing my toes in, I've actually cut out sections on running/foot boots before to allow my little toe out).
By week 10 there was even more healing on the inner edge but not on the outer edge.
By week 20 the inner edge seems to be pretty much healed from what I can tell, and the outer edge is now filling in with bone.
So it appears a fibrous union can ossify given time.
Its just taking a long time.
To naomi44083, yes maybe a operation would have been better originally.
But to be honest an old fashioned cast might have been best for me ! It would have kept the bones lined up and then the fracture should of healed quickly.
The problem was for the doctors is there was no gap showing at week 0
I have been back on my bike since week 10 with no pain.
Since about week 12 I can cycle off road fine. I've not tried full on Mountain biking yet.
Since about week 18 I can run flat footed with my kids.
I've not tried to run properly on my own.
Im also kicking a football around the garden tamely.
Ultimately I want to return to playing football.
Im not sure when or even if I can do this.
The stresses from football will be of much greater magnitude than other activities I do.
Im a 73kg - 40 fairly athletic year old male.
Maybe its time to stop football anyhow.
scu98rkr
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Aslo I've had very little pain the whole way through.
scu98rkr
Posted
correction : Im a 73kg - 175cm - 40 year old fairly athletic year old male.
hobieCal naomi44083
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I'm sad and sorry to hear about everyone's bad experience with the 5th metatarsal. This is one stubborn bone it seems. I'm on week 7, midshaft with displacement and no union so far. I was put in a cast and was told I can bear weight after week 2. The week 4 Xrays showed no improvement so the doc asked me to keep it NWB till today ie week 7. Just got back from the hospital and it seems I will have to push for surgery. I feel that should have been the course of action right away instead of wasting all this time hoping it would heal. I don't know why but it felt like my healthcare provider really didn't want me opting for surgery. They still say it will heal but at this rate, I'm not feeling lucky.
bruce83227 naomi44083
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First of all it would be interesting if everyone who posts on here states where they live and where they are being treated so we can get an idea how medical treatment varies from town to town, country to country etc.
I live in SW London and recently fractured my 5th metatarsal just stepping of a blasted pavement to cross the road & my foot buckled under. I knew it broke because I heard it crack. I could have called an ambulance but it ached instead of hurt and wasnt impossible to walk on it. Got a lift to Kingston Hospital and hobbled into A & E. They at first didnt think it could have broken "because I walked into A & E" (yes, thats what they said to me). However they decided to X ray because "there was nothing to lose not to" (another actual quote).
I was told it was a non displaced fracture and given a little slipper/bootee with velcrose straps. I was then told someone would call me in 2 days to advise if any further procedures would be needed. Got the call and said nothing further needed to be done as it was non displaced fracture. It would heal itself in due course.
Well that was about 6 weeks ago and there is little discomfort now. I did rest it initially and wore the slipper/bootee most times walking around the house. I go out to local shops and it feels almost (90%) as if its back to normal.
Well either I am incredibly lucky with this fracture or we shall see. I want to get back to the long walks I used to have before and play some badminton again.
I was told a follow up X ray would not be needed but I will insist on one in another 6 weeks to ensure it all looks ok.
sandi27417 bruce83227
Posted
I have responded in the past however will again. I live in Virginia so have good private medical care and was able to see a foot orthopedic surgeon. Seems insurance companies want patients to try healing without surgery so I was put in a boot and was NWB for 4 weeks. XRays showed little healing so she popped a pin in, was again NWB 4 weeks then in a walking boot for another 4 then good to get back on my horse!! I was 65 at the time! Never had pain after! Being from UK you know equestrians are nuts and ignore all:) I definitely would go for surgery!! They should give a block that lasts 2 days then in my case, no pain! Good luck. OH, I was given a bone stimulator to use as well.