Case Report

Multiple Surgical Treatment of Recurrent Fifth Metatarsal Stress Fracture

Miroslav Haspl1*, Damir Starcevic1, Nenad Medancic1 and Marko Pecina2
1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Akromion, Special Hospital for Orthopaedic Surgery, Croatia
2Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Croatia


*Corresponding author: Miroslav Haspl, Akromion, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Special Hospital for Orthopeadic Surgery


Published: 26 Feb, 2018
Cite this article as: Haspl M, Starcevic D, Medancic N, Pecina M. Multiple Surgical Treatment of Recurrent Fifth Metatarsal Stress Fracture. Clin Surg. 2018; 3: 1925.

Abstract

Jones’ refracture after surgical treatment represents great challenge for surgeon. Purpose of this article is to review surgical options for treating this injury and analyze extrinsic factors which predict possible refracture. We are presenting the case of a young professional soccer player with repeated Jones’ fracture of the fifth metatarsal who was treated surgically two times with malleolar screw fixation. After second refracture authors performed new surgical refixation with malleolar screw and autologous cancellous bone transplantation. Seven months after surgery patient returned to professional soccer and remains symptom free for next 7 years. In case of a repeated Jones’ fracture of the fifth metatarsal bone, refixation should be performed with refreshing the site of fracture and utilizing bone grafting with autologous cancellous bone. Premature return to sport activity, cavovarus feet, curved fifth metatarsal bone, weak toe-grip strength, increased body mass index (BMI) and lower vitamin D levels are risk factors for refracture and they should be considered and corrected if possible.
Keywords: Jones fracture; Fifth metatarsal stress fracture; Refracture; Professional sport; Surgical treatment; Bone grafting

Introduction

Jones fracture is now defined as an acute fracture of the fifth metatarsal bone, at the junction between the proximal diaphysis and metaphysis, without dislocation, and at the level of the joint between the fourth and fifth metatarsal bone [1,2]. It was first described by Sir Robert Jones in year 1902 [3] which led many to name all fractures of the metatarsal base a Jones fracture. In 1984, Torg [4] divided fractures at the base of the fifth metatarsal bone into acute fractures, fractures with delayed coalescence and fractures that do not coalesce (non-union). Lawrence and Botte in year 1993 [5] divided fractures in base of the fifth metatarsal bone into tuberosity avulsion, real Jones fracture and fracture of the proximal diaphysis of the fifth metatarsal bone. Stress fracture of the diaphysis of the metatarsal bone is defined as a stress fracture in the zone of the proximal part of the fifth metatarsal bone distally from the zone of Jones fracture [1,5-8]. DeLee et al. [9] defined the characteristics of this type of fracture: (a) present a medical history of previous pain from the lateral side of the foot prior to the acute event that led to the patient requesting medical attention, (b) present radiological evidence of stress reaction in the bone, (c) there is no data on previous treatment for fractures of the fifth metatarsal bone. Conservative treatment has an unacceptably high percentage of non-coalescence and re-fracture, as well as a long and unpredictable return to sporting activities, therefore, many authors today prefer primary, early fixation of fractures, especially with and intramedullary screw, particularly when treating athletes [10,11]. Treatment of acute Jones fractures and stress fractures of the proximal fifth metatarsal bone is well described in literature [2,4,8-22]. Re-fractures after a fixation with an intramedullary screw and finished healing are significantly less mentioned in literature [23,24]. In this paper we will present a professional soccer player, who has been treated surgically three times, on the case of Jones fractures, by using an intramedullary screw, and after the second re-fracture treated again by applying a malleolar screw with autologous cancellous bone graft.

Case Presentation

M.Š., born in 1988, a professional football player, at the age of 19 - in October 2007, suffered after a prodromal symptomsa stress fracture of the fifth metatarsal bone in his right foot. Two weeks after the injury, a surgical procedure was done, in terms of osteosynthesis with a malleolar screw in the fifth metatarsal bone. After two months he started with jogging and after three and a half months he returned to full sport activity. Throughout that entire period, he experienced some difficulties, discomfort in the foot accompanied by swollen feet after a workout, with swelling withdrawing the next day. In January 2008 after 10 days of intensive training, the patient felt pain and discomfort in the foot with a sense of insecurity. A new fracture on the plantar side of the fifth metatarsal bone was found on X-ray. In March 2008 a repeated osteosynthesis was performed, this time with a longer malleolar screw (Figure 1). After the operation he was immobilized with brace and for two months he walking with crutches, and the following month the load on the foot was increased gradually, using brace. Four and a half months after surgery, he began with jogging, and the full return to sport activity was allowed after 7 months. For the next year and a half, he was playing football with a full load, until April 2010, when he played a match on an extremely hard field lining and pain occurred on the outside of the operated foot, with the feeling that something has snapped. He could not stand on his foot and a swelling appeared. The X-ray showed that new re-fracture of the base of the fifth metatarsal bone occurred, accompanied by a radiolucency round intramedullary screw (Figure 2), which is better seen on CT images of the foot (Figure 3). A few days later, he was admitted to our Department and he underwent a new osteosynthesis of the fifth metatarsal bone of the right foot with a malleolar screw of a 4.5 mm diameter, with an autologous cancellous bone graft, taken from iliac crest.
The surgical procedure was performed under regional anaesthesia with the use of Esmarch tourniquet. Using the old operative incision, we gained access to the base of the fifth metatarsal bone and the screw was removed. Under the control of an X-ray amplifier a Kirschner wire is set intramedullary in a new direction. A cannulated bur is used to make a new ring for the screw in a way that it engages the medial cortex. A malleolar screw is introduced, with partial thread of 4.5 mm diameter so that the screw thread passes over the fracture line. Under the control of X-ray the screw is introduced into the medullary canal, until the distal part of the medial cortices, in which it is screwed in with two threads. In this way, it is ensure to have a good compression on the place of the fracture cracks and excellent stability of the screw. At the fracture site, the periosteum is cut through and the bone is coated with an autologous cancellous bone from the iliac crest. After surgery immobilization is set with a walking brace. Load on the operated leg from 10 kg to 15 kg allowed. The patient starts with early physiotherapy. After six weeks it is allowed to walk with one crutch for 30 days and after that with full weight bearing. Three months after surgery, the patient experienced no pain, and control X-ray showed healing of the re-fracture site (Figure 4). He started with strength training after a pedobarographic analysis and preparation of individual orthopaedic insoles to prevent re-occurrence of fracture. Seven months after the surgery control X-ray showed visible complete remodeling of the location of re-fracture of the base of the fifth metatarsal bone (Figure 5), so he was allowed to perform a full physical exercise and play soccer. For the next seven years, during which we followed the patient, while he played professional soccer, there were no new subjective complaints on the operated foot, and the X-ray of the foot done at the last check (five and a half years after the last surgery), was normal with a visible functional adaptation of the fifth metatarsal bone in his right foot (Figure 6).

Figure 1

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Figure 1
X-ray after first refracture and reoperation at August 8, 2008 (four months after reoperation) performed with a longer malleolar screw.

Figure 2

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Figure 2
Second refracture at April 11, 2010. Notice screw instability and don't passing medial corticalis. Good, preferable position of the screw is marked with line.

Figure 3

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Figure 3
CT scan showing refractures of the fifth metatarsal bone at April 11, 2010

Figure 4

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Figure 4
Three months after second reosteosynthesis with bone grafting at July 21, 2010, Good bone healing.

Figure 5

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Figure 5
Seven months after second reosteosynthesis shoving finished bone healing at November 24, 2010. Starting full sport activity.

Figure 6

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Figure 6
Last X-ray at February 2016 (FU 5.5 years after second reosteosynthesis and bone grafting).

Discussion and Literature Review

Surgical treatment of acute (real) Jones fractures and stress fractures of the diaphysis of the fifth metatarsal bone is proven to be a safe and effective method of treatment [1,3,5-14]. Chuykpaiwong and associates [1] have analysed 32 real Jones fractures and 29 stress fractures of the proximal diaphysis of the fifth metatarsal bone. They found no difference in outcome between the two anatomical locations, and have therefore suggested that the fractures of the base of the fifth metatarsal bone (except avulsion) should be named Jones fractures. Treatment of non-healing and/or re-fracture require surgical treatment. The question is why did our patient require repeated surgery? Our patient came back too soon into a full physical exercise. Reoperation was done by re-osteosynthesis with a longer screw, but the screw was too long, reaching subcortical bone of fifth metatarsal bone following intramedullary canal, which prevented maximal compression. In our patient a new re-fracture occurred after two years. X-ray and CT investigations indicated the refracture, but also a loosening of the osteosynthetic material, i.e. the screw. This suggests that the osteosynthetic material (screw) was unstable, and was not acting as an additional reinforce for the bone. The patient was reoperated in such a way that we changed the direction of the screw and the screw was introduced from the base of the metatarsal bone in the medial cortex of the distal diaphysis. A. Thus, a stable osteosynthesis and rapid healing of the refracture was achieved. The screw now serves as an additional reinforcement for the bone. Today, the most used are cannulated screws, usually without a head, for easy and accurate insertion, with a lower risk of bad positioning of the screw, and the option of insertion through smaller incisions [22]. Biomechanical data suggest that the initial strength of the force required to move the fragments of the simulated fracture of the fifth metatarsal bone fixed with a cannulated screw of 4.5 mm, is the same as in fractures fixed with a full 4.5 mm malleolar screw [25].The results of another biomechanical study showed strength reduction of cannulated screws in comparison to full screws, but the difference is gradually reduced as the size of the screw increases. Based on these results, Reese and associates [26] suggested the use of the largest cannulated screws that can fit in the medullary canal. Kelly and associates also proposed the use of larger screws in diameter, but Shah and associates [27] emphasize that inserting a screw with largest possible diameter is not critical to achieve the rigidity of fixation, yet it can increase the risk of intraoperative fracture. Although the description of the different methods of surgical treatment exists (intramedullary fixation screw with or without heads, cannulated or full, use corticocancellous bone graft, method of comprehensive bounds, external fixation, application of tile), we agree with the majority of authors that the recommended method of treatment is fixation with an intramedullar screw but inserted in right position. Treatments of non-healing and re-fractures of Jones fractures bear a lot of controversy. Thomas and associates [28] recommend treatment by intramedullary fixation, without showing and cleaning the location of pseudarthrosis and application of bone graft, in order to preserve the surrounding soft tissues and local circulation. According to Hunt and associates [29] treatment of non-healing and repeated fractures requires removal of osteosynthetic materials, debridement (refreshment) of the fracture location, re-fixation with a screw of larger diameter - the largest that can fit in the channel, and the application of autologous bone from the iliac bone or the application of allogenic bone with bone marrow aspirate from the iliac bone. The authors recommend the application of a screw of 5.5 mm or 6.5 mm diameter, to meet the demands of most athletes. There are several described risk factors of re-fracture of the fifth metatarsal bone. It is well known that a premature return to sport activities presents a high risk of re-fracture, and therefore an athlete must be warned about this complication [29,30]. In case of top athletes, a use of computed tomography or magnetic resonance should be taken in consideration before returning to training in order to avoid the possibility of re-fracture [31]. Athletes with high foot arches have a higher risk of injury to the lateral structure of feet. Popovic and associates [32] have used under scopic tests to find that 14 of the 17 patients treated with surgery had emphasized cavovarus foot, while 3 patients had planovalgus feet. These characteristics can be a predisposing factor for the development of overuse injuries of the fifth metatarsal bone. Fujitaka and associates [13] followed 273 college soccer players between 2005 and 2013 and they tried to find risk factors for proximal fifth metatarsal bone fracture. They found that weak toe-grip strength may lead to an increase in the load applied onto the lateral side of the foot, resulting in stress fracture. Risk factors because of foot deformation need to be identified and it is mandatory to propose correction of shoes or orthotics application or orthopaedic insoles, before returning to sports activities and training after surgical treatment of Jones fractures. Clinical studies of Raikin and associates [33] warned of varus of rear foot part at 16 feet, while radiological imaging showed varus of rear foot part in 18 feet of 21 patients treated surgically for the fracture of the fifth metatarsal bone. They concluded that postoperative orthopaedic insoles that corrected varus feet may be useful in the prevention of re-fracture. Similarly, Darabos and associates [34] proposed application of custom-made foot orthosis for surgically treated patients to facilitate quick recovery and return to normal sports activities. Pećina and associates [35] have used pedobarografy on 20 surgically treated football players and have found varus position of feet in 90% of athletes. They proposed as mandatory preventive measure a pedobarographical analysis of athletes and preparation of individual orthopaedic insoles to prevent re-occurrence of fractures of the fifth metatarsal bone. The appearance of re-fracture of the fifth metatarsal bone, especially recurrent refractures, may be associated with increased body mass index (BMI) and the radiological parameters associated with the protrusion of the head of the fifth metatarsal bone - increased intermetatarsal angle between the fourth and the fifth metatarsal bone, as well as lateral deviation of the fifth metatarsal on the angled X-rays [36]. One of the risk factors indicating a possible worse outcome on healing is the distance between fragments plantar greater than 1 mm, visible on a standard angled X-ray image [37]. In this case, it takes a long time to heal, and often more non-healing and repeated fractures. The topic of metabolic difficulties in healing is another open question, in reference to healing the base of the fifth metatarsal bone. Clutton and Perera [38] showed a study in which they analysed 40 patients with fractures of the fifth metatarsal bone and found a reduced level of vitamin D at 65% patients. Lower vitamin D levels have been noted in patients who have suffered a fracture during the winter months. We can end our discussion with the statement that the problem of the fifth metatarsal bone fracture is actual as it always has been especially in sports medicine [39-42].

Conclusion

Surgical treatment and by an intramedullary fixation of Jones fracture with a screw, is the optimal treatment for athletes, because it enables faster and more predictable healing of fractures and more rapid return to sports activities. It is necessary to bear in mind the risk factors that can lead to re-fracture after fractures, all athletes should be prescribed to have custom made orthopaedic insoles, based on pedobarographic analysis. If there is a new refracture, it is necessary to do a re-fixation of the fracture with a refreshment of fracture site, and by application of autologous cancellous bone. During reoperation it is especially important to pay attention of the direction of the screw that needs to go from the base of metatarsal distal to the medial cortical distal diaphysis.

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