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spiral fracture of 5 methatarsal : leg muscle atrophying in the monitoring phase

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ines56188
ines56188

Hi  , this  is my first post  here. On 14/4 I sprained my foot. I put Ice and left it up. Day 16/4  in the hospital wasx-rayed only  the ankle , without fracture.It was immobilized and will be removed within 5 dyas,  but I removed at home in 3 days, and started walking, with some difficulty , but little pain.

On 24/4 I went to an orthopedist, specialist in foot, , who diagnosed a fracture. He indicated a robofoot  for 15 days and requested X-rays. This week I worked and walking  with the robofoot, and in my office ( I'm a dentist) I going up and down a stair case without difficulty.

Day 28/4 I took th radiography to the doctor and he said I had a oblique fracture ond the 5 methatarsal  , and the surgery was the ideal , because od the displacement. Because I'm allergic to drugs , and adept at conservative treatment, he reduced and bandage and indicated more 15 days with roboffot and recomended absolut rest without working and crushes to walking in home. Moreover , there would be a need for weekly radiographic checks, and the risk of failure of this conservative treatment, slowing my return to normal activities.

Day 2/5 I had another X-ray adn should go to the doctor on friday or monday. I feel little pain , but when I remove th boot I observed that the leg muscle si atrophying, and as I'm 56 years old I'm worried. Should I go back to the activities soon  or is dangerous?  Can I change the use of long robofoot for another immobilizer shoe in this fase  ? What  you suggest to minimize this problem during this monitoring phase ? 

1 like, 2 replies

2 Replies

  • ines56188
    ines56188

    Posted

    The x-rays  ten days after the  day of trauma and   four days after reduction 
    • Limpkin
      Limpkin ines56188

      Posted

      Hi ines56188

      I had in JAnuary a 5th metatarsal break similar to yours. For two weeks I thought it just a sprain and hiked 63k steps on it. Long story short, due to long haul flight before my first X-ray I got 5 clots in my leg so dvt too. So I could not have surgery and the cast had to be swapped with an air boot. With the help of exogen and 6 weeks zero weight-bearing, elevation and light Physio, now in May I got the FIRST X-ray that is showing signs of healing. So four months in and after 2 months no weight-bear and 2 with partial weight-bear we and the doctors have ruled out the need for surgery and feel healing is well under way.

      After another 2 weeks if partial weigh-bear I will then progress to wearing trainers but still will need to use crutches for a while.

      For months I thought non-union inevitable. Especially since the anticoagulants would have compromised the quality of my blood. But if I could have done I would have jumped for joy at this week's X-ray showing the bone recreating itself!

      Suggest: stay patient, stay hopeful. The body is amazing. My bone growth spurt after three-four months of dormancy is incredible, but real.

      LK

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