Foot Fracture 

  • Author: Robert Silbergleit, MD; Chief Editor: Rick Kulkarni, MD   more...
 
Updated: May 4, 2010
 

Background

Approximately 10% of all fractures occur in the 26 bones of the foot. These bones comprise 2 bones in the hindfoot (calcaneus, talus), 5 bones in the midfoot (navicular, cuboid, 3 cuneiforms), and 19 bones in the forefoot (5 metatarsals, 14 phalanges). In addition, the foot contains sesamoid bones, most commonly the os trigonum, os tibiale externum, os peroneum, and os vesalianum pedis. Their smooth sclerotic bony margins and relatively consistent locations help distinguish them from fractures. Hindfoot connects to the midfoot at the Chopart joint; forefoot connects to the midfoot at the Lisfranc joint.

Below is an example of a common fracture.

Fractures, foot. Proximal fifth metatarsal avulsioFractures, foot. Proximal fifth metatarsal avulsion fracture (also termed pseudo-Jones, tennis, or dancer fracture).
Next

Epidemiology

Age

In contrast to adults, children have relatively stronger ligaments than bone or cartilage. As a result, fractures are more common than sprains in children. However, a child's forefoot is flexible and resilient to injury. When metatarsal or phalangeal fractures do occur, they may be difficult to recognize because of multiple growth centers. In such cases, comparison views of the uninjured foot often are helpful. Persistent foot pain in children should raise the physician's concern for potentially important fractures, even in the absence of plain radiographic signs.[1]

Previous
Proceed to Clinical Presentation
 
 
Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Robert Silbergleit, MD  Associate Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School

Robert Silbergleit, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Emergency Medicine, American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Heart Association, American Stroke Association, National Association of EMS Physicians, Sigma Xi, Society for Academic Emergency Medicine, and Society for Neuroscience

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Francis Counselman, MD  Program Director, Chair, Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, Eastern Virginia Medical School

Francis Counselman, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American College of Emergency Physicians, Association of Academic Chairs of Emergency Medicine (AACEM), Norfolk Academy of Medicine, and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD  Senior Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine

Disclosure: eMedicine Salary Employment

Tom Scaletta, MD  Chairperson, Department of Emergency Medicine, Edward Hospital; Past-President, American Academy of Emergency Medicine

Tom Scaletta, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

John D Halamka, MD, MS  Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center; Chief Information Officer, CareGroup Healthcare System and Harvard Medical School; Attending Physician, Division of Emergency Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

John D Halamka, MD, MS is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Emergency Physicians, American Medical Informatics Association, Phi Beta Kappa, and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Rick Kulkarni, MD 

Rick Kulkarni, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Emergency Medicine, American College of Emergency Physicians, American Medical Association, American Medical Informatics Association, Phi Beta Kappa, and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: WebMD Salary Employment

References

  1. Sethuraman U, Grover SK, Kannikeswaran N. Tarsometatarsal injury in a child. Pediatr Emerg Care. Sep 2009;25(9):594-6. [Medline].

  2. Perry JJ, Stiell IG. Impact of clinical decision rules on clinical care of traumatic injuries to the foot and ankle, knee, cervical spine, and head. Injury. Dec 2006;37(12):1157-65. [Medline].

  3. Dowling S, Spooner CH, Liang Y, Dryden DM, Friesen C, Klassen TP, et al. Accuracy of Ottawa Ankle Rules to exclude fractures of the ankle and midfoot in children: a meta-analysis. Acad Emerg Med. Apr 2009;16(4):277-87. [Medline].

  4. Pearse EO, Klass B, Bendall SP. The 'ABC' of examining foot radiographs. Ann R Coll Surg Engl. Nov 2005;87(6):449-51. [Medline].

  5. Johnson PT, Fayad LM, Fishman EK. Sixteen-slice CT with volumetric analysis of foot fractures. Emerg Radiol. May 2006;12(4):171-6. [Medline].

  6. Ting AY, Morrison WB, Kavanagh EC. MR imaging of midfoot injury. Magn Reson Imaging Clin N Am. Feb 2008;16(1):105-15, vi. [Medline].

  7. Banal F, Etchepare F, Rouhier B. Ultrasound ability in early diagnosis of stress fracture of metatarsal bone. Ann Rheum Dis. Jul 2006;65(7):977-8. [Medline].

  8. Schnaue-Constantouris EM, Birrer RB, Grisafi PJ. Digital foot trauma: emergency diagnosis and treatment. J Emerg Med. Feb 2002;22(2):163-70. [Medline].

  9. Zenios M, Kim WY, Sampath J. Functional treatment of acute metatarsal fractures: a prospective randomised comparison of management in a cast versus elasticated support bandage. Injury. Jul 2005;36(7):832-5. [Medline].

  10. Fetzer GB, Wright RW. Metatarsal shaft fractures and fractures of the proximal fifth metatarsal. Clin Sports Med. Jan 2006;25(1):139-50, x. [Medline].

  11. Saab M. Lisfranc fracture--dislocation: an easily overlooked injury in the emergency department. Eur J Emerg Med. Jun 2005;12(3):143-6. [Medline].

  12. Haapamaki VV, Kiuru MJ, Koskinen SK. Ankle and foot injuries: analysis of MDCT findings. AJR Am J Roentgenol. Sep 2004;183(3):615-22. [Medline].

  13. Rammelt S, Zwipp H. Talar neck and body fractures. Injury. Apr 23 2008;[Medline].

  14. DiGiovanni CW. Fractures of the navicular. Foot Ankle Clin. Mar 2004;9(1):25-63. [Medline].

  15. Benson E, Conroy C, Hoyt DB, Eastman AB, Pacyna S, Smith J, et al. Calcaneal fractures in occupants involved in severe frontal motor vehicle crashes. Accid Anal Prev. Jul 2007;39(4):794-9. [Medline].

  16. Hahn MP, Richter D, Ostermann PA. [Injury pattern after fall from great height. An analysis of 101 cases]. Unfallchirurg. Dec 1995;98(12):609-13. [Medline].

  17. Knight JR, Gross EA, Bradley GH, Bay C, LoVecchio F. Boehler's angle and the critical angle of Gissane are of limited use in diagnosing calcaneus fractures in the ED. Am J Emerg Med. Jul 2006;24(4):423-7. [Medline].

  18. Prayson MJ, Chen JL, Hampers D. Baseline compartment pressure measurements in isolated lower extremity fractures without clinical compartment syndrome. J Trauma. May 2006;60(5):1037-40. [Medline].

  19. Richter J, Schulze W, Klaas A, Clasbrummel B, Muhr G. Compartment syndrome of the foot: an experimental approach to pressure measurement and release. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg. Feb 2008;128(2):199-204. [Medline].

 
Previous
Next
 
Fractures, foot. Proximal fifth metatarsal avulsion fracture (also termed pseudo-Jones, tennis, or dancer fracture).
Fractures, foot. Jones fracture of the fifth metatarsal.
Fractures, foot. Lisfranc fracture-dislocation.
Fractures, foot. Calcaneal fracture with intraarticular involvement and joint depression.
Fractures, foot. Calcaneal fracture with intraarticular involvement and joint depression with Böehler angle imposed. Reduced angle of 16 degrees is pathologic.
Fractures, foot. Subtle fracture of the first cuneiform at the Lisfranc joint. Another fracture at the base of the first metatarsal is not seen here but was found on subsequent computed tomography.
Fractures, foot. CT scan showing fracture of first cuneiform and proximal first metatarsal.
Fractures, foot. Spiral fracture of the shaft of the fifth metatarsal. This fracture was treated conservatively with immobilization.
Fractures, foot. Minimally displaced fracture of the distal fifth metatarsal. This fracture was treated conservatively with immobilization in a rigid flat bottom shoe.
Fractures, foot. Two fractures of the proximal phalanx of the great toe. The fracture at the base is obvious, but the fracture at the head is more subtle. Make certain to examine every bone on the radiograph to avoid being distracted by obvious finding.
Comminuted navicular fracture in a young drunk driver involved in a motor vehicle crash. The patient sustained no other injuries and was discharged in a plaster splint with strict nonweightbearing. The patient subsequently had a computerized tomography (CT) scan and underwent open reduction and internal fixation 9 days after the injury. A standard anteroposterior (AP) view is shown here.
An added oblique view of this same patient with a navicular fracture was performed in the ED to help verify the absence of other significant fractures. Obtaining views that are not part of the routine foot series can be helpful and should be added when needed.
 
 
 
All material on this website is protected by copyright, Copyright © 1994-2012 by WebMD LLC.
This website also contains material copyrighted by 3rd parties.

DISCLAIMER: The content of this Website is not influenced by sponsors. The site is designed primarily for use by qualified physicians and other medical professionals. The information contained herein should NOT be used as a substitute for the advice of an appropriately qualified and licensed physician or other health care provider. The information provided here is for educational and informational purposes only. In no way should it be considered as offering medical advice. Please check with a physician if you suspect you are ill.