You step off a curb, roll your ankle, and assume the resulting pain must be a sprain. However, the same twisting motion can sometimes fracture the fifth metatarsal, the long bone running along the outside of the foot toward the little toe.
At Podiatry Center of New Jersey, we evaluate foot and ankle injuries throughout New Jersey and help patients determine whether pain after a misstep comes from a ligament injury, fracture, or both.
Why Can This Fracture Be Mistaken for a Sprain?
An ankle sprain typically damages ligaments that support the ankle. A fifth metatarsal fracture affects the foot, but the pain and swelling can develop close enough to the ankle that the injuries feel similar.
Both may follow an awkward landing or sudden inward roll. Both can also cause swelling, bruising, difficulty bearing weight, and pain while walking. Being able to take a few steps does not necessarily rule out a fracture.
The location of the tenderness may provide a clue. Pain from a fifth metatarsal injury is often concentrated along the outer edge of the foot, particularly near the bony bump behind the little toe.
Are All Fifth Metatarsal Fractures the Same?
No. The bone can break in different locations, and the exact location affects treatment and healing. One common injury occurs when a tendon or ligament pulls a small piece of bone away from the base of the metatarsal.
A Jones fracture develops in a different area of the bone that may receive less blood flow. Because this can make healing more difficult, proper diagnosis and follow-up are important. Repetitive stress can also create a gradual fracture rather than one caused by a single obvious accident.
How Is the Injury Diagnosed and Treated?
A podiatrist can examine the foot and ankle and order X-rays or other imaging when appropriate. Treatment depends on the fracture’s location, alignment, and severity.
Some fractures may heal with immobilization, limited weight-bearing, and a protective boot or cast. Others may require surgery, particularly when the bone is displaced, or healing is unlikely without stabilization.
Do not keep walking on an injury that causes localized outer-foot pain, significant swelling, or difficulty bearing weight. Review additional information about ankle sprains and other podiatry services.
If a rolled ankle leaves the outside of your foot especially tender, Podiatry Center of New Jersey can identify what was injured and recommend the appropriate next step. Call (973) 925-4111 or schedule an appointment online.
