Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCausesSymptomsDiagnosisTreatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Causes
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment
A pseudo-Jones fracture, also known as the avulsion fracture of the fifth metatarsal, is the most common type offifth metatarsal fracture. The fifth metatarsal is the bone that runs from the midfoot to the base of the small toe on the outside of the foot.
Anavulsion fractureoccurs when the tendon pulls off a tiny fragment of bone. It can affect the function and movement of the joint, but these fractures are usually not badly out of place.An avulsion fracture of the fifth metatarsal occurs at the point where theperoneus brevistendon attaches to the bone.
Kathrin Ziegler / Getty Images
What Causes a Pseudo-Jones Fracture?
A forced inversion (rolling inward) of the foot can cause a pseudo-Jones fracture.The force causes the tendon to tear a bit of bone off the fifth metatarsal at the base of the pinky toe.
Any activity that causes the foot to forcefully roll inwards can lead to this particular injury. It can happen when stepping awkwardly off a curb, stepping into a hole, twisting your foot during sports activities, or falling off a stair.
What Are the Symptoms of a Pseudo-Jones Fracture?
Some signs of a pseudo-Jones fracture are visible on the outside of the foot. They include:
You may also experience pain or tenderness with pressure over the outside of the foot.
How Is a Pseudo-Fracture Diagnosed?
After you injure your foot, you will likely go to your primary care doctor, an urgent care clinic, or possibly an emergency room. A healthcare provider will do a physical examination of the foot and listen to the history of how you sustained the injury. They will then likely recommend an X-ray, which will be used to diagnose whether you’ve sustained an avulsion fracture or a Jones fracture.
You may also need blood tests to screen your general health and any other contributing factors to the accident. For example, if the injury occurred because you were faint or uncoordinated, this might indicate a silent medical problem such as diabetes or high blood pressure.
What is the difference between a Jones fracture and a pseudo-Jones fracture?Avulsion fractures can be confused with othertypes of fractures to the fifth metatarsal bone. The most common problem is distinguishing this injury from aJones fracture. The distinction is important because the treatment of these injuries is different.In a Jones fracture, the fifth metatarsal shaft is affected. In a pseudo-Jones fracture, it’s the fifth metatarsal base that’s affected.
What is the difference between a Jones fracture and a pseudo-Jones fracture?
Avulsion fractures can be confused with othertypes of fractures to the fifth metatarsal bone. The most common problem is distinguishing this injury from aJones fracture. The distinction is important because the treatment of these injuries is different.In a Jones fracture, the fifth metatarsal shaft is affected. In a pseudo-Jones fracture, it’s the fifth metatarsal base that’s affected.
Avulsion fractures can be confused with othertypes of fractures to the fifth metatarsal bone. The most common problem is distinguishing this injury from aJones fracture. The distinction is important because the treatment of these injuries is different.
In a Jones fracture, the fifth metatarsal shaft is affected. In a pseudo-Jones fracture, it’s the fifth metatarsal base that’s affected.
How Is a Pseudo-Fracture Treated?
Treatment of avulsion fractures is usually accomplished with a walking cast or a walking boot.These protect the fracture site, but allow you to walk and place weight on the foot. The walking cast or boot is worn for about four to six weeks. Crutches are not usually needed for this injury, andsurgeryis seldom necessary.
Needless to say, you’re unlikely to be able to perform activities such as dancing for the next month or two as you make a recovery. Resting and icing the area are important during the recovery period.
Surgery might be needed if the avulsion fracture is displaced (the broken bone fragment does not align with the rest of the bone).The doctor may recommend an open reduction with internal fixation or a closed reduction with pinning.
In an open reduction surgery, your orthopedic surgeon will put the bone together after surgically exposing it. In a closed reduction surgery, they will not surgically expose the bone in order to put it back into place. Fixation refers to connecting the bone fragments using tools such as screws, pins, or wires.
Summary
A pseudo-Jones fracture has a very good prognosis and almost always can be managed with very simple treatments—unlike other types of fifth metatarsal fractures that may require more invasive approaches. While there is undoubtedly some discomfort early in the treatment process, symptoms will quickly improve over a matter of weeks.
6 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.Vannabouathong C, Ayeni OR, Bhandari M.A narrative review on avulsion fractures of the upper and lower limbs.Clin Med Insights Arthritis Musculoskelet Disord. 2018;11:1179544118809050. doi:10.1177/1179544118809050UpToDate.Proximal fifth metatarsal fractures.Massachusetts General Hospital.5th metatarsal fractures.Merck Manual.Jones vs pseudo-Jones fractures.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.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Ankle fracture open reduction and internal fixation.Additional ReadingDen Hartog BD. “Fracture of the proximal fifth metatarsal” J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2009 Jul;17(7):458-64
6 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.Vannabouathong C, Ayeni OR, Bhandari M.A narrative review on avulsion fractures of the upper and lower limbs.Clin Med Insights Arthritis Musculoskelet Disord. 2018;11:1179544118809050. doi:10.1177/1179544118809050UpToDate.Proximal fifth metatarsal fractures.Massachusetts General Hospital.5th metatarsal fractures.Merck Manual.Jones vs pseudo-Jones fractures.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.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Ankle fracture open reduction and internal fixation.Additional ReadingDen Hartog BD. “Fracture of the proximal fifth metatarsal” J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2009 Jul;17(7):458-64
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.
Vannabouathong C, Ayeni OR, Bhandari M.A narrative review on avulsion fractures of the upper and lower limbs.Clin Med Insights Arthritis Musculoskelet Disord. 2018;11:1179544118809050. doi:10.1177/1179544118809050UpToDate.Proximal fifth metatarsal fractures.Massachusetts General Hospital.5th metatarsal fractures.Merck Manual.Jones vs pseudo-Jones fractures.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.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Ankle fracture open reduction and internal fixation.
Vannabouathong C, Ayeni OR, Bhandari M.A narrative review on avulsion fractures of the upper and lower limbs.Clin Med Insights Arthritis Musculoskelet Disord. 2018;11:1179544118809050. doi:10.1177/1179544118809050
UpToDate.Proximal fifth metatarsal fractures.
Massachusetts General Hospital.5th metatarsal fractures.
Merck Manual.Jones vs pseudo-Jones fractures.
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.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Ankle fracture open reduction and internal fixation.
Den Hartog BD. “Fracture of the proximal fifth metatarsal” J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2009 Jul;17(7):458-64
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