What causes metatarsal fractures? What are the symptoms?

Metatarsal bones are long bones, with a total of 5 pieces, located between the toes and tarsals, and are named metatarsal bones 1 to 5 from the inside of the foot to the outside. The proximal part of the metatarsal is the base, the middle part is the body, and the distal part is the head. It is divided into 3 parts: the metatarsal head, the toe body, and the toe base. So what are the symptoms of metatarsal fractures?

Symptoms and signs

Symptoms and signs of metatarsal and phalangeal fractures

The main symptoms of this disease are foot pain, swelling, and deformity, but the symptoms of metatarsal fractures in different parts of the body are slightly different:

1. Avulsion fracture of the base of the fifth metatarsal

The peroneus brevis muscle is attached to the tuberosity at the base of the fifth metatarsal. Severe inversion sprain of the foot can cause a crack fracture or a complete avulsion fracture. When examining X-rays, care should be taken to distinguish them from the normal epiphysis of children.

2. Marching fractures are rare and occur when walking long distances. They occur at the neck or shaft of the second or third metatarsal bones, or at the tibia. They are usually not displaced and are also called fatigue fractures. Fractures often occur unconsciously, without a history of trauma, and the symptoms are not severe. In the early stages, there is only slight pain in the affected foot, mild local swelling, and a feeling of fatigue and discomfort in the foot. Sometimes, it is not discovered until more callus occurs. ;

Preventive care

Prevention and care of metatarsal and phalangeal fractures

1. Fractures often have some sequelae:

It is caused by many reasons. There is currently no way to prevent the inevitable sequelae of the fracture itself, such as bone ischemia necrosis and bone development disorders caused by epiphyseal injury. Other sequelae, such as nonunion, malunion, joint dysfunction, delayed neuritis and spontaneous tendon rupture, may be prevented or their severity may be alleviated to varying degrees.

2. Patients with this disease should also pay attention to functional exercise:

Patients with simple fractures were not given plaster fixation after surgery, and active functional training of the affected toe was started on the second day. Patients with tendon injuries were given functional training after 3 to 4 weeks of plaster fixation.

Pathological etiology

Pathological causes of metatarsal and phalangeal fractures

There are two causes of metatarsal and phalangeal fractures:

1. The most common cause is direct violence.

It is usually caused by heavy objects hitting the instep, rolling pressure, inversion of the foot, or accidentally kicking a hard object.

2. Some fractures are caused by cumulative fatigue.

Long-term, repeated, minor direct or indirect injuries may cause a fracture in a specific part of the limb, such as long-distance marching, which can easily lead to fractures of the second and third metatarsal bones.