Broken Metatarsal

Your metatarsals are a group of 5 long bones in the middle of your foot. They connect the back part of your foot to your toes. A metatarsal fracture is a break in one of these bones. All broken bones are considered fractures. For more information, see Overview of Broken Bones.

A metatarsal fracture can happen because of:

• Twisting your foot

• A hard force (such as something heavy hitting your foot)

• Repeated, small stresses (such as walking long distances)—this is called a stress fracture

Stress fractures are small cracks in a bone caused by overuse. They often occur in metatarsal bones.

• Stress fractures are tiny cracks in the bone, not complete breaks

• They're usually caused by lots of walking or running

• You'll have pain and tenderness, especially when your weight is on your foot

• Doctors can tell if you have stress fractures from x-rays (though it sometimes takes a few weeks for them to be visible on an x-ray) or CT scans or MRI

• You'll use crutches and rest your foot while it heals

What Is a Stress Fracture?

Stress fractures are tiny cracks in the bone caused by repeated impact.

A Lisfranc fracture-dislocation is a specific type of metatarsal fracture.

• It happens to the 2nd metatarsal bone (a bone connects the back of your foot to your 2nd toe)

• It's caused by falling on a twisted foot, or something hitting your foot hard

• Football players, motorcyclists, and horseback riders are most likely to get Lisfranc fracture-dislocations

• You'll have pain in your foot and sometimes bruising on the bottom of the foot

• Doctors do x-rays or CT scans

• Doctors do surgery to put the bones back in place

Lisfranc fracture-dislocation is serious and may cause pain and arthritis. You may have to stop playing certain sports even after it heals.

Lisfranc Fracture-Dislocation

The 2nd metatarsal is broken near the base and the broken pieces are separated from each other (dislocated). This injury is called a Lisfranc fracture-dislocation.

The 5th metatarsal bone is a long bone that connects the back of your foot to your little toe. A fracture of the 5th metatarsal bone is a break in this bone.

• It's one of the most common foot fractures

• The fracture can be near the ankle (base) or in the middle of the bone (shaft)

• It can happen because of stress (overuse) or a single injury

• You may have pain in the outside edge of your foot

• Doctors tell if you have a fracture by taking x-rays

• You need crutches, and hard protective shoes or a special boot

• Rarely, you'll nee a cast or surgery