5th metatarsal broken at the mid-shaft

Need advice!!!

I had an accident at the beach on my vacations in Puerto Rico, I was hit by a huge wave that knocked me down to a rock, this cause the 5th metatarsal bone to break at the mid-shaft with displacement and also it’s a long horizontal breakage. This happen back on 8/30/08, I was referred to a Sport Med Surgeon, he recommended a conservative option (cast) or surgery. I opted to try the cast for about 6 weeks or so. By 10/7/08 I got x-rays done but there was no sign of callus growing. At that point the doctor decide I need it surgery, but it was not approved to be done at PR so, I got back to NY with a walking cast. The new doctor (also a Sport Med Surgeon) told me to wear timberland boots for a month before making a decision to perform the surgery. I did but when I was using the walking cast I did not had pain but since I started walking again my foot is getting swelling and I've been having pain and redness at the injury area, also I get pain going up my leg after walking. Do you think that walking on my foot aggravated the injury or this is normal?

Thanks in advance for your response.

[FootDoc]

DISCLAIMER:
THE FOLLOWING IS OFFERED GRATIS AS GENERAL INFORMATION ONLY, AND, AS SUCH, MAY NOT BE APPLICABLE TO THE SPECIFIC QUESTIONER AND/OR HIS/HER PROBLEM. IT IS CLEARLY NOT BASED ON ACTUAL KNOWLEDGE AND/OR EXAMINATION OF THE QUESTIONER OR HIS/HER MEDICAL HISTORY, AND IT CAN NOT AND SHOULD NOT BE RELIED UPON AS DEFINITIVE MEDICAL OPINION OR ADVICE. ONLY THROUGH HANDS- ON PHYSICAL CONTACT WITH THE ACTUAL PATIENT CAN ACCURATE MEDICAL DIAGNOSIS BE ESTABLISHED AND SPECIFIC ADVICE BE GIVEN. NO DOCTOR/PATIENT RELATIONSHIP IS CREATED OR ESTABLISHED OR MAY BE INFERRED. THE QUESTIONER AND/OR READER IS INSTRUCTED TO CONSULT HIS OR HER OWN DOCTOR BEFORE PROCEEDING WITH ANY SUGGESTIONS CONTAINED HEREIN, AND TO ACT ONLY UPON HIS/HER OWN DOCTOR’S ORDERS AND RECOMMENDATIONS. BY THE READING OF MY POSTING WHICH FOLLOWS, THE READER STIPULATES AND CONFIRMS THAT HE/SHE FULLY UNDERSTANDS THIS DISCLAIMER AND HOLDS HARMLESS THIS WRITER. IF THIS IS NOT FULLY AGREEABLE TO YOU, THE READER, AND/OR YOU HAVE NOT ATTAINED THE AGE OF 18 YEARS, YOU HEREBY ARE ADMONISHED TO READ NO FURTHER.
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Although I certainly cannot speak with reliability to your individual case, I think that it is a reasonable assumption to make that if one had a non-union of the fracture as originally treated, then with weight-bearing without adequate immobilization of the fracture site it would be expected that the condition would be aggravated.

Thanks for your promt reply. I really apreciate the time you had taken to answer my question. It really helps to know other people opinion, so we could ask the proper questions to our doctors. I when back to my doctor and had new x-rays, it looks that is healing slowly. As I had explian on my previous message it has a displacement and it looks like it did not moved or moved closer or changed at all. Is this ok to heal like that? My doctor said is healing fine, but I still have discomfort when walking or standing for long periods of time and my heal is hurting as well.

Thanks again....
Janet

Originally Posted by FootDoc

DISCLAIMER:
THE FOLLOWING IS OFFERED GRATIS AS GENERAL INFORMATION ONLY, AND, AS SUCH, MAY NOT BE APPLICABLE TO THE SPECIFIC QUESTIONER AND/OR HIS/HER PROBLEM. IT IS CLEARLY NOT BASED ON ACTUAL KNOWLEDGE AND/OR EXAMINATION OF THE QUESTIONER OR HIS/HER MEDICAL HISTORY, AND IT CAN NOT AND SHOULD NOT BE RELIED UPON AS DEFINITIVE MEDICAL OPINION OR ADVICE. ONLY THROUGH HANDS- ON PHYSICAL CONTACT WITH THE ACTUAL PATIENT CAN ACCURATE MEDICAL DIAGNOSIS BE ESTABLISHED AND SPECIFIC ADVICE BE GIVEN. NO DOCTOR/PATIENT RELATIONSHIP IS CREATED OR ESTABLISHED OR MAY BE INFERRED. THE QUESTIONER AND/OR READER IS INSTRUCTED TO CONSULT HIS OR HER OWN DOCTOR BEFORE PROCEEDING WITH ANY SUGGESTIONS CONTAINED HEREIN, AND TO ACT ONLY UPON HIS/HER OWN DOCTOR’S ORDERS AND RECOMMENDATIONS. BY THE READING OF MY POSTING WHICH FOLLOWS, THE READER STIPULATES AND CONFIRMS THAT HE/SHE FULLY UNDERSTANDS THIS DISCLAIMER AND HOLDS HARMLESS THIS WRITER. IF THIS IS NOT FULLY AGREEABLE TO YOU, THE READER, AND/OR YOU HAVE NOT ATTAINED THE AGE OF 18 YEARS, YOU HEREBY ARE ADMONISHED TO READ NO FURTHER.
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Although I certainly cannot speak with reliability to your individual case, I think that it is a reasonable assumption to make that if one had a non-union of the fracture as originally treated, then with weight-bearing without adequate immobilization of the fracture site it would be expected that the condition would be aggravated.

[FootDoc]

DISCLAIMER:
THE FOLLOWING IS OFFERED GRATIS AS GENERAL INFORMATION ONLY, AND, AS SUCH, MAY NOT BE APPLICABLE TO THE SPECIFIC QUESTIONER AND/OR HIS/HER PROBLEM. IT IS CLEARLY NOT BASED ON ACTUAL KNOWLEDGE AND/OR EXAMINATION OF THE QUESTIONER OR HIS/HER MEDICAL HISTORY, AND IT CAN NOT AND SHOULD NOT BE RELIED UPON AS DEFINITIVE MEDICAL OPINION OR ADVICE. ONLY THROUGH HANDS- ON PHYSICAL CONTACT WITH THE ACTUAL PATIENT CAN ACCURATE MEDICAL DIAGNOSIS BE ESTABLISHED AND SPECIFIC ADVICE BE GIVEN. NO DOCTOR/PATIENT RELATIONSHIP IS CREATED OR ESTABLISHED OR MAY BE INFERRED. THE QUESTIONER AND/OR READER IS INSTRUCTED TO CONSULT HIS OR HER OWN DOCTOR BEFORE PROCEEDING WITH ANY SUGGESTIONS CONTAINED HEREIN, AND TO ACT ONLY UPON HIS/HER OWN DOCTOR’S ORDERS AND RECOMMENDATIONS. BY THE READING OF MY POSTING WHICH FOLLOWS, THE READER STIPULATES AND CONFIRMS THAT HE/SHE FULLY UNDERSTANDS THIS DISCLAIMER AND HOLDS HARMLESS THIS WRITER. IF THIS IS NOT FULLY AGREEABLE TO YOU, THE READER, AND/OR YOU HAVE NOT ATTAINED THE AGE OF 18 YEARS, YOU HEREBY ARE ADMONISHED TO READ NO FURTHER.
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Certainly, fractures heal faster and easier if the fracture segments are completely reduced and well stabilized. I don't know how much displacement you had or on what basis your doctor decided that neither a closed nor open reduction was necessary, but that is something to discuss with him/her. I have not uncommonly seen cases where reductions were not performed (usually due to much delayed or absent professional treatment) which eventually healed well and the fracture site had eventually remodeled effecting a decrease in deformity of the bone. If your doctor says that it's healing fine, and you have confidence in his/her work and opinion, then I suppose you have your answer, as, with the very limited I know about your case, I am certainly in no position to dispute his/her opinion in the matter.