How to treat a fracture of the metatarsal bone of the foot

Fracture metatarsal bones - the most common type of damage to the bone structures of the foot, which occurs when the leg injury. Fractures of the metatarsal bones of the foot most commonly occur in children but can in adults. If there is damage to the fifth metatarsal bone due to inversion of the feet, this injury is called a Jones fracture. The localization of such damage must be studied carefully in the diagnosis of various forms of disease, as treatment of the fifth metatarsal and other foot bones is different due to the different nature of the fractures. This leads to the fact that there is no universal way to restore these structures.

Principal lesions in fractures of metatarsus

There are two main types of lesions of this kind:

1. Acute trauma to the anterior and middle divisions of the foot during sudden impact or fall (traumatic fractures).
2. Damage caused by prolonged stress on the foot, or appeared because of a number of repetitive minor trauma are called stress. This can occur when running, dancing and other similar movements.

Fractures of the metatarsal bone structures are separated by their location, character and availability shifts:

1. Trauma to the base of the foot.
2. Injury arose under the heads of the metatarsal bones.
3. Damage to the bone occurred at the offset of the wreckage remained in place or injury has occurred without displacement.

.Mostly these injuries of the metatarsal bones make up 5-6% of all such injuries that affect the human skeleton. These fractures are equally common for both women and men.

Broken metatarsal: the causes of

The main factors that contribute to the obtaining of such injuries are:

• excessive or very intense for the duration of loading activities and sports;
• the weakening of bone structures due to the development of diseases such as osteoporosis;
• a sharp blow or drop a heavy object on the foot;
• the injury caused by vehicle accident due to falling of the lower limbs under the wheel of a car or clamping when flattening machine body;
• jump with a bad landing or fall of person from height.

Symptoms that indicate fracture of the metatarsal bones can be divided into the following types:

1. Pain. It can develop gradually, but then sharply increase during stress.
2. Severe swellingstop.
3. The appearance in the affected areas of subcutaneous bleeding (bruises).

People, who had similar symptoms in the beginning feels a sudden sharp pain. This happens immediately after the injury. Sometimes in such cases, the patient may hear a crunching or clicking strong. Pain can lead to lameness. The fracture in such cases is most often closed, that is, the skin on the feet is not broken. There might also be swelling, which will increase during the day half of the day. With nightfall, this phenomenon is somewhat reduced. In severe injuries of the metatarsal bones with displacement of the visual deformation may not occur.

First aid for injuries

First and foremost, it is necessary to remove the load on the foot and limit her movement. This is necessary to prevent further destruction. Then swelling is overlaid with a piece of ice. Its use will slow down or reduce unwanted processes, and will reduce the pain numbing.

Ice pieces, it is desirable to use for 2 days after the injury. Keep ice on the wound more than 1/3 of an hour is not recommended, as can occur with frostbite the affected part.

Next time, apply ice, it is possible not earlier than in 1,5 hours. This method allows the skin and tissue structures of the patient to return to normal temperature. If there is no ice, wrapped in a towel any frozen product and apply to the damaged area. Put a piece of ice directly on the skin is not recommended. It is impossible to do and in that case, if the patient is sleeping.

The next step is to gently wrap the injured limb with an elastic bandage. Tighten it impossible. If the toes of the patient is numb, it is necessary to loosen the bandage. Bandage to limit swelling.

Before bedtime is necessary to remove the bandage, but if you have to move, it is best to wrap the damaged limb.

The injured leg is necessary to give some elevation. To do this, it can be put on the pillow, if the patient is on the bed or the couch. If he sits, the limb should be put on a chair. This measure will help to reduce swelling will reduce pain.

It is strictly forbidden to heat the affected area for the first 7 days. Do not attempt to RUB the injury with alcohol or another type of alcohol, the patient to do massage. All of this can lead to increased edema. The patient forbidden to visit the sauna or steam bath or take a bath with hot water. Unlike ice, heat provokes vasodilation and increases blood flow, which in thisthe form of injury undesirable. The patient should limit the support on the foot until after his examination by the doctor.

Methods of diagnosis of the disease

For starters, experts explain the patient the circumstances in which he was injured. Then examines the place where the kick was made and its orientation. Likely determined by the strength of this impact.

The next step is the examination of the victim, which is a careful study of the ankle and of the foot. It identifies the combination of damage, like swelling, extravasation of blood, deformity.

Patient sent for x-rays. It makes the roentgenogram in 2 projections. This is the most accurate method of examination at the moment. It allows to make a diagnosis. But it has a drawback. Stress fracture without displacement is often difficult to accurately diagnose the disease even if the doctor has a great experience.

Then after 2 weeks re-doing x-rays a day. At this point usually occurs the so-called resorption tissue in the fracture site. But usually, the stress injury is difficult to determine by x-ray until then, until they grow together and not to appear callus. To eliminate the error, the patient may be sent for an MRI or a CT scan. After receiving the necessary data doctors collect a consultation and determine ways to eliminate injuries.

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Treatment of injuries to the metatarsal bones

Tactics in the fight against disease, conservative methods depends on the location and severity of fractures. If damaged, without offsets, for adults to impose plaster does not. They understand the need for traffic restrictions with the aim of healing the injury. Children it is difficult to explain, so doctors are forced to use a cast.

Fractures experts recommend to travel to the patient only by relying on the heel, and even better without support, for example with the use of crutches.

Stress injuries doctors recommend the use of orthotics. Thus it is necessary to move at partial load to the affected area.

If the injury to the metatarsals occurred with a slight shift, the is a reduction with fixation with a plaster Longuet.

When a large displacement of the fragments in the bony structures fractures is removed by surgery.

The indication for it is the presence of a large number of displaced fragments to a distance of 1/2 more than the width of the bones themselves. Thereseveral different techniques such cures:

1. Fixing spokes through the skin. This is one of the most popular methods of addressing complex fractures. First, the doctor combines fragments of the bony structures. Then in a certain direction, which depends on the characteristics of injury through the fragments of fixed spokes. The positive side of such an operation is a small possibility of injury to the patient, speed of implementation, its comparative cheapness. With this method there are no incisions, no scar remains after the procedure. Weaknesses: the spokes are inserted so that their ends were slightly. In the subsequent withdrawal, there is a risk of penetration into the wound infection, you have 30 days to wear a bandage, the patient, this method brings certain discomfort.
2. Open reposition when the damage to the metatarsal bones stop is done with plates and screws. It is called by plate osteosynthesis. The surgeon makes an incision and penetrates the area of the fracture. To do this, gently spread all the tendons, nerves, blood vessels. Then the doctor connects the bone fragments, eliminates offset and makes the fixation of all the elements in the desired position. Plaster bandage is not necessary, since a metal plate and screws fixed, all the structures in the correct state. After this operation the patient can walk with support on the heel within 30 days.

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You should have the restoration and rehabilitation of the patient. This may be assigned to physiotherapy, prescription drugs that promote rapid growth of bone structures. The timing of recovery depend on the severity of the initial injury, performing a man all the regulations of the attending specialist and the individual characteristics of the patient.