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Fractured 5th metatarsel

(3 discussions)

My 13 year old son fractured his fifth metatarselon his left foot playing basketball.
He plays a lotof different sports and is in good physical shape.
They have him wearing a walking cast now and in twoweeks we go for a checkup, including x-rays, to seehow things are progressing.
My questions are, howlong is the recovery period, 6-8 weeks?
Secondly,is there anything we can do to speed up the process?
Thirdly, is there any chance that he will heal fasterbecause of his age?


3 comments

    Vivian Abrams DPM

    9 10

    Yes, No and possibly. I can only answer in general terms, as I have not examined his foot or seen his X-rays. It is reasonable to expect an uncomplicated fracture to heal well enough to allow activity by 6-8 weeks but there are always exceptions. It is unrealistic to expect to speed up the process. Alot of things happen when healing occurs. There is a timeline of necessary processes that must occur.Kids generally seem to heal faster than adults, but there are always exceptions.You need to discuss these questions with his doctor who has seen his x-ray and his fractured metatarsal

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    9 10

    I fractured my left 5th metatarsel 11/27/03. Two doctors have looked at my recent x-rays and say the opposite things. I am seeing another doctor 1/21/04. One doctor said my bone alignment is good and I’m about 65% healed. The other said my fracture looks like a sharply angled jig saw puzzle and that it is a St. John’s fracture with union or non-union ( I can’t remember) whatever. My 1st question is this : My 13 year old son fractured his fifth metatarsel: on his left foot playing basketball. He plays a lot: of different sports and is in good physical shape.: They have him wearing a walking cast now and in two: weeks we go for a checkup, including x-rays, to see: how things are progressing. My questions are, how: long is the recovery period, 6-8 weeks? Secondly,: is there anything we can do to speed up the process?: Thirdly, is there any chance that he will heal faster: because of his age?

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    9 10

    When I was 12 I fractured by 5th metatarsal and I am an athlete and very active and in shape. It healed in about three and a half weeks.

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