Treatment and recovery
Properly caring for a Jones fracture can begin even while waiting for a doctor's care. As soon as pain is experienced, a patient should follow the RICE method.
This includes:
Resting the injury
Icing areas with pain and swelling
Compressing the affected area
Elevating the injured foot
For a Jones fracture, these methods are only meant as a measure to prevent the affected area from getting worse.
A doctor will immobilize the foot in a cast, cast boot, or stiff-soled shoe and may recommend surgery.
The treatment for a Jones fracture depends on several factors including:
The patient's activity level
The severity of the break
The overall health of the patient
A Jones fracture can be slow to heal. A person with this type of fracture may need to wear a cast for longer than initially recommended.
There is evidence, however, that patients who undergo surgery for the fracture may heal faster than those who do not.
Surgery
A cast boot
A cast boot may be used before surgery to immobilize the foot.
Because a Jones fracture is often slow or resistant to healing, and there is a risk of reinjury, surgeons commonly operate on these fractures by repairing the break with a screw, rod, or plate.
The incision required to repair a Jones fracture is very small. This means that the surgery can be done as an outpatient procedure under general or local anesthesia.
During the procedure, the surgeon uses X-rays to ensure proper screw placement. The screw crosses the site of the fracture and squeezes the ends of it together.
Sometimes, bone grafting may be needed, particularly in chronic fractures that have not healed with other treatment. In these cases, a separate incision may be needed to insert the bone graft.
Complications
Because of the limited blood flow to the area, a Jones fracture has a higher likelihood of not healing than other metatarsal fractures, unless surgical treatment is given.
Of those treated nonsurgically, 15 to 20 percent of fractures may not heal. Other complications may include:
Problems related to surgery and anesthesia such as blood clots
Need for repeated surgery
Refracturing after healing
Muscle atrophy
Continued pain
Outlook
The healing time for a Jones fracture varies based on the treatment method, the severity of the fracture, and the patient.
Depending on the surgeon and the type of fracture, the person may not be allowed to put weight on the injured foot for the first 1 to 2 weeks after the surgery.
In some cases, a person with a Jones fracture may be allowed to bear weight through the heel for up to 6 weeks, depending on the severity of the fracture. After that, a weight-bearing walking boot is generally allowed.
A person who has had surgery to repair a Jones fracture can expect a return to all activity, including sports, 3-4 months after surgery. However, the doctor may recommend a period of physical therapy to recondition the injured area.
More severe fractures that require bone grafting may have longer recovery times.
