Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesRisk FactorsDiagnosisTreatmentComplicationsRecovery
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Risk Factors
Diagnosis
Treatment
Complications
Recovery
A Jones fracture of the foot is a break in the long bone that connects the pinky toe (fifth metatarsal) to the base of the foot. Bruising and swelling are common symptoms, and you may have difficulty bearing weight or walking on that foot.
This article explains a Jones fracture of the foot, its causes, and symptoms. It also discusses how Jones fractures are diagnosed and treated.
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Foot Anatomy and Causes of Pain
Jones Fracture Symptoms
Typical symptoms of a Jones fracture may include:
What Causes a Jones Fracture?
When they occur traumatically, such as while playing sports, it’s usually the result of an inversion-type sprain (the foot is turned inward towards the other foot).This is the same type of injury that can cause an ankle fracture.
When Jones fractures result from repetitiveoveruse injuries, such as walking or running on hard surfaces for long periods, the bone may slowly crack or weaken to a point where a traumatic acute break can occur.
What Are Risk Factors?
Risk factors for a Jones fracture include:
Common Types of Sports Injuries
Prevention
For individuals who have an increased risk of getting a Jones fracture, there are a few ways to help prevent this injury, such as:
Diagnosing a Jones Foot Fracture
To diagnose a Jones fracture, your healthcare provider:
Jones Fracture vs. Avulsion FractureJones fractures occur in the middle section of the fifth metatarsal, whereas avulsion fractures occur at the base of the fifth metatarsal.
Jones Fracture vs. Avulsion Fracture
Jones fractures occur in the middle section of the fifth metatarsal, whereas avulsion fractures occur at the base of the fifth metatarsal.
Did I Bruise My Bone or Break It?
Jones Fracture Treatment
A Jones fracture is located near the middle of the bone, an area that can be difficult to heal because it lacks blood supply. Treatment of Jones fractures may involve casting and/or surgery.
The treatment plan often depends on the person’s age, activity level, overall medical health, and type of Jones fracture. Either way, bone healing takes around eight weeks.
Bone Fracture vs. Break: Is There a Difference?
Will a Jones Fracture Heal Without Surgery?
In some cases, a Jones fracture can heal without surgery. Your healthcare provider may immobilize your foot with a cast or boot.
Studies suggest that non-surgical treatment methods work successfully between 77% and 93% of the time depending on the exact fracture location.
Healthcare providers usually advisecrutchesuntil bone healing is seen on the X-ray or other imaging technique. Jones fractures are notorious for delayed healing, and immobilization can extend to three or more months in some cases.
If the bone doesn’t heal within six weeks, surgery may be necessary.
Jones Fracture Surgery
In many cases, surgery is needed to heal a Jones fracture.
Surgery methods tend to heal Jones fractures faster than non-surgical methods.Studies suggest that surgery methods work successfully nearly 96% of the time.
Understanding the Possible Risks and Complications of Surgery
Although Jones fractures heal slowly, they are not usually considered a serious injury. However, there are some potential complications of a Jones fracture including:
OutlookThe majority of individuals have good outcomes whether treated surgically or non-surgically. Most individuals can return gradually to normal activity within about six weeks. However, for some, this may take several months.
Outlook
The majority of individuals have good outcomes whether treated surgically or non-surgically. Most individuals can return gradually to normal activity within about six weeks. However, for some, this may take several months.
Jones Fracture Recovery
Healing time for a Jones fracture can take about eight weeks with or without surgery, and you may need physical therapy after your foot has healed.
The challenge with Jones fractures is that the fracture occurs within a segment of bone that is considered less vascular, which ultimately means prolonged healing times.
Some healthcare providers recommend bone healing devices, calledbone stimulators, for these fractures to try to shorten healing time.
Jones fracture recovery tips to keep in mind:
Summary
A Jones fracture of the foot is a break in the fifth metatarsal bone. Symptoms may include bruising, swelling, pain, and difficulty or inability to walk. Treatment may include immobilizing the foot with a cast or medical boot or surgery to repair the break. Recovery can take a couple of months and may require physical therapy.
How Does It Feel When a Broken Bone is Healing?
12 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.Jones fracture.American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society.Jones fracture.American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons.Fractures of the fifth metatarsal.Fleischer AE, Stack R, Klein EE, Baker JR, Weil L Jr, Weil LS Sr.Forefoot adduction is a risk factor for jones fracture.J Foot Ankle Surg. 2017;56(5):917-921. doi:10.1053/j.jfas.2017.04.017The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne.Metatarsal foot fractures - emergency department.Rikken QGH, Dahmen J, Hagemeijer NC, Sierevelt IN, Kerkhoffs GMMJ, DiGiovanni CW.Adequate union rates for the treatment of acute proximal fifth metatarsal fractures.Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2021;29(4):1284-1293. doi:10.1007/s00167-020-06072-8Cheung CN, Lui TH.Proximal fifth metatarsal fractures: anatomy, classification, treatment and complications.Arch Trauma Res. 2016;5(4):e33298. doi:10.5812/atr.33298Albloushi M, Alshanqiti A, Qasem M, Abitbol A, Gregory T.Jones type fifth metatarsal fracture fixation in athletes: a review and current concept.World J Orthop. 2021;12(9):640-650. doi:10.5312/wjo.v12.i9.640Chloros GD, Kakos CD, Tastsidis IK, Giannoudis VP, Panteli M, Giannoudis PV.Fifth metatarsal fractures: an update on management, complications, and outcomes.EFORT Open Rev. 2022;7(1):13-25. doi:10.1530/EOR-21-0025Bowes J, Buckley R.Fifth metatarsal fractures and current treatment.World J Orthop. 2016;7(12):793–800. doi:10.5312/wjo.v7.i12.793Nolte P, Anderson R, Strauss E, et al.Heal rate of metatarsal fractures: A propensity-matching study of patients treated with low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) vs. surgical and other treatments.Injury. 2016;47(11):2584-2590. doi:10.1016/j.injury.2016.09.023Kaiser Permanente.Fifth metatarsal jones fracture: care instructions.
12 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.Jones fracture.American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society.Jones fracture.American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons.Fractures of the fifth metatarsal.Fleischer AE, Stack R, Klein EE, Baker JR, Weil L Jr, Weil LS Sr.Forefoot adduction is a risk factor for jones fracture.J Foot Ankle Surg. 2017;56(5):917-921. doi:10.1053/j.jfas.2017.04.017The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne.Metatarsal foot fractures - emergency department.Rikken QGH, Dahmen J, Hagemeijer NC, Sierevelt IN, Kerkhoffs GMMJ, DiGiovanni CW.Adequate union rates for the treatment of acute proximal fifth metatarsal fractures.Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2021;29(4):1284-1293. doi:10.1007/s00167-020-06072-8Cheung CN, Lui TH.Proximal fifth metatarsal fractures: anatomy, classification, treatment and complications.Arch Trauma Res. 2016;5(4):e33298. doi:10.5812/atr.33298Albloushi M, Alshanqiti A, Qasem M, Abitbol A, Gregory T.Jones type fifth metatarsal fracture fixation in athletes: a review and current concept.World J Orthop. 2021;12(9):640-650. doi:10.5312/wjo.v12.i9.640Chloros GD, Kakos CD, Tastsidis IK, Giannoudis VP, Panteli M, Giannoudis PV.Fifth metatarsal fractures: an update on management, complications, and outcomes.EFORT Open Rev. 2022;7(1):13-25. doi:10.1530/EOR-21-0025Bowes J, Buckley R.Fifth metatarsal fractures and current treatment.World J Orthop. 2016;7(12):793–800. doi:10.5312/wjo.v7.i12.793Nolte P, Anderson R, Strauss E, et al.Heal rate of metatarsal fractures: A propensity-matching study of patients treated with low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) vs. surgical and other treatments.Injury. 2016;47(11):2584-2590. doi:10.1016/j.injury.2016.09.023Kaiser Permanente.Fifth metatarsal jones fracture: care instructions.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.Jones fracture.American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society.Jones fracture.American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons.Fractures of the fifth metatarsal.Fleischer AE, Stack R, Klein EE, Baker JR, Weil L Jr, Weil LS Sr.Forefoot adduction is a risk factor for jones fracture.J Foot Ankle Surg. 2017;56(5):917-921. doi:10.1053/j.jfas.2017.04.017The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne.Metatarsal foot fractures - emergency department.Rikken QGH, Dahmen J, Hagemeijer NC, Sierevelt IN, Kerkhoffs GMMJ, DiGiovanni CW.Adequate union rates for the treatment of acute proximal fifth metatarsal fractures.Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2021;29(4):1284-1293. doi:10.1007/s00167-020-06072-8Cheung CN, Lui TH.Proximal fifth metatarsal fractures: anatomy, classification, treatment and complications.Arch Trauma Res. 2016;5(4):e33298. doi:10.5812/atr.33298Albloushi M, Alshanqiti A, Qasem M, Abitbol A, Gregory T.Jones type fifth metatarsal fracture fixation in athletes: a review and current concept.World J Orthop. 2021;12(9):640-650. doi:10.5312/wjo.v12.i9.640Chloros GD, Kakos CD, Tastsidis IK, Giannoudis VP, Panteli M, Giannoudis PV.Fifth metatarsal fractures: an update on management, complications, and outcomes.EFORT Open Rev. 2022;7(1):13-25. doi:10.1530/EOR-21-0025Bowes J, Buckley R.Fifth metatarsal fractures and current treatment.World J Orthop. 2016;7(12):793–800. doi:10.5312/wjo.v7.i12.793Nolte P, Anderson R, Strauss E, et al.Heal rate of metatarsal fractures: A propensity-matching study of patients treated with low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) vs. surgical and other treatments.Injury. 2016;47(11):2584-2590. doi:10.1016/j.injury.2016.09.023Kaiser Permanente.Fifth metatarsal jones fracture: care instructions.
University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.Jones fracture.
American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society.Jones fracture.
American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons.Fractures of the fifth metatarsal.
Fleischer AE, Stack R, Klein EE, Baker JR, Weil L Jr, Weil LS Sr.Forefoot adduction is a risk factor for jones fracture.J Foot Ankle Surg. 2017;56(5):917-921. doi:10.1053/j.jfas.2017.04.017
The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne.Metatarsal foot fractures - emergency department.
Rikken QGH, Dahmen J, Hagemeijer NC, Sierevelt IN, Kerkhoffs GMMJ, DiGiovanni CW.Adequate union rates for the treatment of acute proximal fifth metatarsal fractures.Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2021;29(4):1284-1293. doi:10.1007/s00167-020-06072-8
Cheung CN, Lui TH.Proximal fifth metatarsal fractures: anatomy, classification, treatment and complications.Arch Trauma Res. 2016;5(4):e33298. doi:10.5812/atr.33298
Albloushi M, Alshanqiti A, Qasem M, Abitbol A, Gregory T.Jones type fifth metatarsal fracture fixation in athletes: a review and current concept.World J Orthop. 2021;12(9):640-650. doi:10.5312/wjo.v12.i9.640
Chloros GD, Kakos CD, Tastsidis IK, Giannoudis VP, Panteli M, Giannoudis PV.Fifth metatarsal fractures: an update on management, complications, and outcomes.EFORT Open Rev. 2022;7(1):13-25. doi:10.1530/EOR-21-0025
Bowes J, Buckley R.Fifth metatarsal fractures and current treatment.World J Orthop. 2016;7(12):793–800. doi:10.5312/wjo.v7.i12.793
Nolte P, Anderson R, Strauss E, et al.Heal rate of metatarsal fractures: A propensity-matching study of patients treated with low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) vs. surgical and other treatments.Injury. 2016;47(11):2584-2590. doi:10.1016/j.injury.2016.09.023
Kaiser Permanente.Fifth metatarsal jones fracture: care instructions.
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