What happens if a Jones fracture goes untreated?

Our Meridian and Caldwell Podiatrists Provide the Facts About Jones Fractures

A Jones fracture is an injury of the fifth metatarsal—the long bone connecting the pinkie toe to the base of the foot. This break can be rather painful, but treatment is typically straightforward and almost always leads to a full recovery. However, some people choose to delay or forego care—a decision that might temporarily stave off fears of surgery, but could cause long-term complications that require much more intensive treatment.

Rocky Mountain Foot & Ankle’s experienced team of board-certified podiatrists can help diagnose, treat, and care for a suspected Jones fracture, ensuring that you get back on your feet without the risk of unexpected impediments.

An Overview of Jones Fractures $X-ray of foot with a Jones fracture$

In most cases, Jones fractures are caused by a sudden and powerful application of force to the outside of the foot—especially when it’s twisted away from the body. Athletes, dancers, and workers who spend considerable time on their feet all face an increased risk for fifth metatarsal injuries, but Jones fractures are sometimes diagnosed in sedentary adults and people with osteoporosis, too.

Jones Fracture Symptoms

Signs of a Jones fracture vary in their intensity, but could include any of the following:

Pain

Swelling or tenderness along the outside edge of the foot

Tenderness around the injured area

Bruising

Discoloration

People with Jones fractures may also have a hard time walking unassisted, and notice a small bump or other deformity on their foot.

Diagnosing a Jones Fracture

To the untrained eye, Jones fractures may closely resemble avulsion fractures, another common type of bone break affecting the fifth metatarsal. However, there are significant differences—in terms of treatment, and recovery times—between the two.

Before recommending any type of care, our podiatrists will confirm an injury diagnosis by:

Taking an X-ray of your foot.

Using an MRI to map the damage to your bone and determine whether there is additional damage to the muscle or connective tissue.

Placing an order for a CT scan if the damage appears extensive and you’re recommended for surgery.

With an accurate diagnosis and the right course of treatment, most Jones fractures heal fully and pose little to no risk of long-term disability. But, if ignored or treatment is unduly delayed, there is real potential for serious complications.

Jones Fractures and the Risk of Complications

Without prompt medical attention, there’s a roughly one–in–three chance of developing a related condition called nonunion. Nonunion is a medical term used to describe the body’s inability to heal a fracture. Most medical researchers define nonunion as a fracture that lasts for a minimum of nine months, with no evident signs of healing for at least three months prior to diagnosis.

Nonunion cases require even more extensive treatment and create the potential for further complications including, but not limited to:

Permanent nerve damage
Long-term nonunion
Infection

In the most severe cases, nonunion-type injuries can cause cell and tissue death—and sometimes even necessitate amputation.

Treating a Jones Fracture

Jones fractures can be treated with or without surgery. Here are some of the most common techniques we use at Rocky Mountain Foot & Ankle.

Immobilization

If your fracture is mild and the bones weren’t displaced, your podiatrist may only recommend the short-term use of a cast or immobilizing boot.

Closed Reduction

Closed reduction is a non-surgical procedure that re-aligns displaced bones through the use of physical manipulation. Your podiatrist may give you a local anesthetic or sedative, after which they’ll begin moving the displaced metatarsal back into place. Closed reduction procedures typically require patients to wear a cast or a boot for up to eight weeks afterward.

Internal Fixation Surgery

Serious Jones fractures may need internal fixation surgery, a type of realignment surgery that puts broken bones back into their correct position. Once relocated, these bones are held together using a piece of metal—typically a rod, a combination of plates and screws, or pins and wires. Although internal fixation surgery sometimes has a months-long recovery period, it eliminates the greater risk of future complications.

Bone Grafting Surgery

Bone graft surgery is usually only recommended for the most severe fractures, or in cases where the injured metatarsal isn’t healing at a typical rate. During a bone graft procedure, your podiatrist inserts additional bone tissue to reconnect the fractured bone. This is typically followed by internal fixation surgery. Although bone graft surgery might sound intimidating, it’s an outpatient procedure—it only takes several hours to complete, and you can most likely go home the same day.