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BACKGROUND: Fifth metatarsal basis fractures are common injuries. Zone 1 fractures are also known as pseudo-jones fractures. This study aimed to elucidate the impact of foot radiologic morphology on pseudo-Jones fractures. METHODS: Patients with pseudo-Jones fractures formed the case group and individuals with ankle sprains but no fractures formed control group. Weight-bearing anteroposterior and lateral radiographs were evaluated for pre-determined measurements: metatarsus adductus angle (MAA), intermetatarsal angles (1-2, 4-5), calcaneal inclination (CI) angle, and fifth metatarsal base angle. All measurements were performed by a single investigator using digital PACS tools. Statistical analysis compared these radiographic parameters between the groups. RESULTS: The fracture group demonstrated a significantly lower 4-5 intermetatarsal and calcaneal inclination angles than the control group (p < 0.05). Notably, no statistically significant difference was found in the metatarsus adductus angle. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates a potential association between foot radiographic morphology and pseudo-Jones fractures. Patients with a lower 4-5 IMA and calcaneal inclination angle may be at a higher risk for developing pseudo-Jones fractures. However, these requires future prospective studies. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III case control study.

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Introduction: Jones fractures frequently fail to unite, and adequate fixation stability is crucial. This study aimed to elucidate the biomechanical stability of various intramedullary screw fixation constructs. Methods: Jones fracture model over the proximal 5th metatarsal of artificial bone was created in all specimens. Six groups were divided based on varied screw constructs with different screw lengths, either 30 or 40 mm, including cannulated screws-C30 and C40 groups, one high-resistance suture combined with intramedullary cannulated screws (F.E.R.I. technique)-CF30 and CF40 groups, and second-generation headless compression screws (SG-HCS) -HL30 and HL40 groups. Mechanical testing was conducted sequentially, and the maximal force (N) and stiffness (N/mm) of all constructs were recorded. Results: The maximal force (N) at 1.0 mm downward displacement in C30, C40, CF30, CF40, HL30, and HL40 groups were 0.56 ± 0.02, 0.49 ± 0.02, 0.65 ± 0.02, 0.49 ± 0.01, 0.68 ± 0.02, and 0.73 ± 0.02, respectively, and the stiffness (N/mm) in subgroups were 0.49 ± 0.01, 0.43 ± 0.01, 0.67 ± 0.01, 0.42 ± 0.01, 0.61 ± 0.01, and 0.58 ± 0.02, respectively. SG-HCS subgroups exhibited greater maximal force and stiffness than conventional cannulated screws. Screws of 30 mm in length demonstrated better stability than all 40 mm-length screws in each subgroup. In C30 fixation, the stiffness and maximum force endured increased by 1.16 and 1.12 times, respectively, compared with the C40 fixation method. There were no significant differences between CF30 and SG-HCS groups. Only the F.E.R.I technique combined with the 4.5 mm cannulated screw of 30 mm in length increased the biomechanical stability for Jones fractures. Discussion: These biomechanical findings help clinicians decide on better screw fixation options for greater stability in Jones fractures, especially when large-diameter screws are limited in use. However, this biomechanical testing of intramedullary screw fixation on Jones fracture model lacks clinical validation and no comparisons to extramedullary plate fixations. Moving forward, additional clinical and biomechanical research is necessary to validate our findings.

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Fifth metatarsal features are the most common fractures in the foot. They have a long history that has resulted in many classification systems and little consensus on appropriate treatment. Although there is some agreement among experts, there are also many questions yet to be answered. There is a general consensus that dancer's fractures and zone 1 fractures can generally be treated nonoperatively. There is much more debate about zone 2 and 3 fractures and appropriate treatment guidelines. The authors review the current literature and give the recommendation for treatment based on their experience in a community-based private practice.

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Non-union and refracture of fifth metatarsal fractures are common and devastating complications in the athletic population. Stem cell application at the fracture site, for biologic enhancement, is utilized to address this challenge. We present a simple technique to approach both the endosteum and the periosteum percutaneously, under a local anesthetic, in cases of cannulated screw intramedullary fixation.

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Background: Jones fractures are common injuries that can be treated conservatively or surgically. However, the optimal treatment approach remains controversial. This study aimed to compare the clinical outcomes of conservative and operative treatments for Jones fractures and determine whether surgical treatment is necessary. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on 69 patients with Jones fractures treated at our hospital. The patients were divided into 2 groups: conservative (C group; n = 46) and operative (O group; n = 23) treatments. Patients were followed up after 2, 6, and 12 weeks, and every 3 months thereafter. However, outpatient follow-ups were conducted between 8 and 10 weeks as needed. The mean follow-up period was 14.5 weeks (range, 12-24 weeks). In group C, the patients were treated with a non-weight-bearing cast for 4-6 weeks, followed by additional weight-bearing boot immobilization before returning to exercise. In group O, patients were treated surgically using a bicortical screw or intramedullary internal fixation. Time to radiologic union, clinical union, return to sports, visual analog scale (VAS), Foot Function Index-Revised Short Form (FFI-RS), and American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) scores were evaluated. Results: Sixty-nine patients were included in the analysis. There were statistically significant differences in the time to radiologic union and return to sports, VAS score in the second week, and FFI-RS score in the 12th week. In group C, favorable outcomes were observed in terms of the time to return to sports, VAS score in the second week, and FFI-RS score in the 12th week. Contrastingly, in group O, better results were observed in time to radiologic union. The AOFAS score was excellent at the final follow-up, with no significant differences between groups. Complication rates were 10.8% and 13% in groups C and O, respectively. Conclusions: Surgical treatment is sometimes necessary for Jones fractures, but conservative treatment should also be considered because of the favorable outcomes. Conservative treatment can be a good option for patients who are risk-averse and place a high value on fracture healing without surgery.

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Background: Female representation within athletics has increased as a result of Title IX, rising popularity, demand for equal compensation, and greater participation in multiple sports. Despite this, gender disparities in sports medicine research are apparent. This project serves to review the literature available on fifth-metatarsal fractures and assess the representation of female athletes in current literature. Methods: We used a standardized protocol to audit the representation of female athletes in sports science and sports medicine research for fifth-metatarsal fractures. Primary factors included population, athletic caliber, menstrual status, research theme, sample of males and females, journal impact factor, and Altmetric score. Results: Thirty articles met the inclusion criteria. A total of 472 fifth-metatarsal fractures were identified, with 373 of 472 fractures (79%) occurring in males and 99 of 472 (21%) in females. The majority of studies (18/30, 60%) were mixed cohort, followed by 10 male only (33.33%), 1 female only (3.33%), and 1 male vs female (3.33%). Out of 831 total patients in the 18 mixed-cohort studies, 605 of 831 patients (72.8%) were male and 226 of 831 patients (27%) were female. All 18 mixed-sex cohorts investigated health outcomes. Male-only studies evaluated health outcomes and performance metrics. No studies investigated female performance. The one female-only study investigated health outcomes and was the only study to account for menstrual status. There was a single metatarsal fracture in this study population. Conclusion: Females are underrepresented in research regarding sports science and sports medicine research for fifth-metatarsal fractures. Research focused on female-only fifth-metatarsal fracture studies exploring the potential impact of female sex-specific factors such as menstrual status in study design are needed.

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BACKGROUND: Significant heterogeneity in the classification and treatment of zone 3 proximal fifth metatarsal base fractures ("true Jones fractures") exists. This study compared time to clinical and radiographic healing between patients treated operatively and nonoperatively. We hypothesized that patients treated nonoperatively may demonstrate a greater time to clinical healing. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study of patients presenting to a large, urban, academic medical center with "Jones" fractures between December 2012 and April 2022. Jones fractures were defined as fifth metatarsal base fractures occurring in the proximal metadiaphyseal region, distal to the articulation of the fourth and fifth metatarsals on the oblique radiographic view. Clinical healing was the time point at which the patient had returned to their baseline ambulatory status with no tenderness to palpation. Radiographic healing was the presence of bridging callus across at least 3 cortices. RESULTS: A total of 2450 patients presented with fifth metatarsal fractures, and 166 fractures (6.8%) were true Jones fractures. Among patients with Jones fractures, 120 patients with 121 Jones fractures followed up at our institution and were included in the analysis (mean age 46.5 ± 18.5 years). Ninety-nine fractures (81.8%) were treated nonoperatively and 22 fractures (18.2%) operatively. There were no differences between nonoperative and operative groups in time to clinical healing (12.7 ± 7.1 vs 12.8 ± 4.8 weeks, P = .931) or radiographic healing (13.2 ± 8.1 vs 11.7 ± 5.9 weeks, P = .331). Overall healing rate was 96% for the nonoperative group compared with 96.2% for the operative group. CONCLUSION: In this study, nonoperative and operative treatment of true Jones fractures were associated with equivalent clinical and radiographic healing. The rate of delayed union in true Jones fractures was lower than previously described, and there was no difference in delayed union rate between nonoperative and operative management. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, retrospective cohort study.

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BACKGROUND: Several methods have been used to treat pediatric Jones fractures, but there has been no consensus about the optimum method. The purposes of this study were to compare the clinical outcomes between compression screw and non-weight-bearing techniques used in pediatric Jones fractures and clarify the most suitable treatment option for this population. METHODS: Twenty-one patients who presented with Jones fractures between January 2015 and June 2021 were analyzed retrospectively. They were divided into the compression screw group (n=10) and cast immobilization (n=11) group. The following parameters were compared between them: demographic data; times to radiographic union, full weight bearing, and return to daily life; and the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) foot scores at 3 months postoperatively and the final follow-up. RESULTS: The two groups did not differ significantly with respect to age, sex, laterality, and preoperative displacement. The mean immobilization time and times to radiographic union, full weight bearing, and return to daily life were significantly shorter in the compression screw group than in the cast immobilization group. The AOFAS scores at the final follow-up did not differ significantly between the two groups. One case of refracture and delayed union each were observed in the non-weight-bearing cast group. However, no patients experienced nonunion. CONCLUSIONS: Compression screw and non-weight-bearing cast techniques are effective methods for treating pediatric Jones fractures. The complication rate was lower in pediatrics than in adults. However, compared with the non-weight-bearing cast technique, the compression screw technique has the advantages of a shorter radiographic union time, shorter immobilization times, and earlier return to full weight bearing and daily life. We recommend compression screw fixation for widely displaced fractures and school-age and active adolescents to avoid delays in healing, nonunion, disruption to daily living, and time off school. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.

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Jones fracture, a specialized fracture that occurs at the base of the fifth metatarsal, is located in the junction region of the proximal metaphysis and epiphysis of the metatarsal. Its treatment remains challenging because of its unique location, high functional demands from its victims and a high rate of delayed union or nonunion after surgical or non-surgical treatment. We present a review of recent studies on the mechanisms, risk factors, treatments, and rapid rehabilitation concepts for Jones fracture, hoping to deepen the understanding of the fracture so as to improve its treatment outcomes.

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Background: Artificial intelligence (AI) platforms, such as ChatGPT, have become increasingly popular outlets for the consumption and distribution of health care-related advice. Because of a lack of regulation and oversight, the reliability of health care-related responses has become a topic of controversy in the medical community. To date, no study has explored the quality of AI-derived information as it relates to common foot and ankle pathologies. This study aims to assess the quality and educational benefit of ChatGPT responses to common foot and ankle-related questions. Methods: ChatGPT was asked a series of 5 questions, including "What is the optimal treatment for ankle arthritis?" "How should I decide on ankle arthroplasty versus ankle arthrodesis?" "Do I need surgery for Jones fracture?" "How can I prevent Charcot arthropathy?" and "Do I need to see a doctor for my ankle sprain?" Five responses (1 per each question) were included after applying the exclusion criteria. The content was graded using DISCERN (a well-validated informational analysis tool) and AIRM (a self-designed tool for exercise evaluation). Results: Health care professionals graded the ChatGPT-generated responses as bottom tier 4.5% of the time, middle tier 27.3% of the time, and top tier 68.2% of the time. Conclusion: Although ChatGPT and other related AI platforms have become a popular means for medical information distribution, the educational value of the AI-generated responses related to foot and ankle pathologies was variable. With 4.5% of responses receiving a bottom-tier rating, 27.3% of responses receiving a middle-tier rating, and 68.2% of responses receiving a top-tier rating, health care professionals should be aware of the high viewership of variable-quality content easily accessible on ChatGPT. Level of Evidence: Level III, cross sectional study.

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Although intramedullary screw fixation is commonly performed for proximal fifth metatarsal fractures, high rates of nonunion, refracture, and hardware prominence have been reported. The Jones Specific Implant (JSI) is a novel surgical implant which contours to the native curvature of the fifth metatarsal allowing for a more anatomic fixation. The purpose of this study was to compare short-term complication rates and outcomes of patients treated with the JSI to other fixation types such as plates and intramedullary screws. Electronic records were queried for adult patients with proximal fifth metatarsal fractures who underwent primary fixation from 2010 to 2021. All patients were treated by a foot and ankle fellowship-trained surgeon with intramedullary screws, plates, or JSI (Arthrex Inc., Naples, FL). Visual analog scale (VAS) and the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Score (AOFAS) were recorded and compared using univariate statistics. Eighty-five patients underwent fixation using intramedullary screw (n = 51, 60%), plate (n = 22, 25.9%), or JSI (n = 12, 14.1%) with a mean follow-up of 11.1 ± 14.6 months. The total cohort demonstrated a significant improvement in VAS pain (p < .0001) as well as AOFAS (p < .0001) scores. When comparing the cohort treated with JSI and the cohort treated with all other types of fixation, there were no significant differences in postoperative VAS or AOFAS scores. Only 3 complications, one with JSI (3.5%) required removal of the symptomatic hardware. The JSI is a novel treatment for proximal fifth metatarsal fractures, with similar early outcomes and complication rates when compared with intramedullary screw and plate fixation.

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BACKGROUND: The use of orthobiologics is expanding. However, the use of orthobiologic augmentation in primary fracture fixation surgery remains limited. Primary fracture fixation of the fifth metatarsal (Jones) in athletes is one of the rare situations where primary orthobiologic augmentation has been advocated. PURPOSE: To determine the effect of orthobiologic augmentation on the outcome of surgically managed Jones fractures in athletes. STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review; Level of evidence, 4. METHODS: Following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines, 2 independent team members searched several databases including PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, Google Scholar, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrials.gov through March 2021 to identify studies reporting on surgically managed Jones fractures of the fifth metatarsal exclusively in athletes. The primary outcomes were the return to play (RTP) rate and time to RTP, whereas the secondary outcomes were time to union, union rate, and refractures. Data were presented by type of treatment (biologically augmented fixation or fixation alone). RESULTS: In the biologically augmented fixation group, successful RTP was reported in 195 (98.98%) of 197 fractures (odds ratio [OR], 97.5%; 95% CI, 95.8%-100%; I2 = 0), with a mean time to RTP of 10.3 weeks (95% CI, 9.5-11.1 weeks; I2 = 99%). In the group that received fixation without biological augmentation, successful RTP was reported in 516 (99.04%) of 521 fractures (OR, 98.7%; 95% CI, 97.8%-99.7%; I2 = 0], with a mean time to RTP of 9.7 weeks (95% CI, 7.84-11.53 weeks; I2 = 98.64%]. In the biologically augmented fixation group, fracture union was achieved in 194 (98.48%) of 197 fractures (OR, 97.6%; 95% CI, 95.5%-99.7%; I2 = 0%), with a mean time to fracture union of 9.28 weeks (95% CI, 7.23-11.34 weeks; I2 = 98.18%). In the group that received fixation without biological augmentation, fracture union was achieved in 407 (93.78%) of 434 fractures (OR, 97.4%; 95% CI, 96%-98.9%; I2 = 0%), with a mean time to fracture union of 8.57 weeks (95% CI, 6.82-10.32 weeks; I2 = 98.81%). CONCLUSION: Orthobiologically augmented surgical fixation of Jones fractures in athletes is becoming increasingly common, despite the lack of comparative studies to support this practice. Biologically augmented fixation of Jones fractures results in higher fracture union rates than fixation alone but similar rates of RTP and time to RTP. Although the current evidence recommends primary surgical fixation for the management of Jones fractures in athletes, further high quality comparative studies are required to establish the indication for orthobiologic augmentation.

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INTRODUCTION: Although intramedullary screw fixation likely leads to successful union of Jones fractures compared to that of nonoperative treatments, bony union disorder after surgical treatment remains to be elucidated. METHODS: Intramedullary screw fixation was performed for the surgical treatment of proximal fifth metatarsal stress fractures in this series. Between January 2008 and December 2019, the feet of 222 patients were investigated regarding the effective factors for postoperative bony union between the normal union group and the bony union disorder group according to the patients' physical status, radiological assessment, and screw size. The mean postoperative follow-up period was 11.1 months. Bone union disorder was defined as delayed union, nonunion, or a re-fracture recognized through a radiographic image. RESULTS: The prevalence rate of union disorders occurred in 14% (31/222) of the patients. The risk of bone union disorder significantly increased when using a small-diameter screw (odds ratio 4.81, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.62-14.2, p = 0.004) and non-bone graft procedures (odds ratio 3.13, 95% CI 1.22-8.02, p = 0.02). Screw length, preoperative Torg's classification, or patients' physical status did not affect postoperative bony union. CONCLUSIONS: Approximately 14.0% of the patients in our study had postoperative bone union disorder. Small-diameter screws and non-bone graft procedures increased the risk of bone union disorder in the intramedullary screw fixation technique of fifth metatarsal bone stress fractures. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 4, case series.

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Background: Jones fracture, or proximal fifth metatarsal fracture, is a common injury in National Football League (NFL)-caliber athletes. Combine draft performance can greatly impact the long-term success of these athletes, and substantial emphasis has been placed on early return to play (RTP) and the minimization of post-operative complications after Jones fracture in these athletes. To date, no study has specifically described the treatment and outcomes of this injury specifically in NFL-caliber players, considering factors relevant to this unique population. Thus, the purpose of this review is to delve into Jones fracture in NFL-caliber athletes, evaluating the diagnostic, treatment, and RTP considerations. Methods: We searched Medline (PubMed), Embase (Elsevier), Scopus (Elsevier), and SPORTDiscus (EBSCOhost) for the concept of Jones fractures in the NFL. Using the PRISMA guidelines, a team of three reviewers conducted abstract screenings, full-text screenings, and the extraction of studies describing Jones fractures specifically in the NFL. Results: Of the 1911 studies identified, 6 primary retrospective studies met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The heterogeneity of the outcome reporting precluded a meta-analysis; thus, a qualitative review of manuscripts describing Jones fracture was carried out. Classification, diagnosis, and treatment considerations, RTP statistics and outcomes, and complications were discussed. Amongst the primary studies, there were 285 Jones fractures, all athletes were able to RTP, and the average time to RTP ranged from 6 weeks to 27 weeks. For complications, with operative treatment, the refracture rate ranged from 4 to 12%, and incomplete healing ranged from 7 to 50%. RTP was 15 weeks for refractures. There were no patient-reported outcomes. Conclusions: The vast majority of Zone 2/3 Jones fractures are treated with IM screw fixation with or without adjunctive orthobiologics, such as bone marrow aspirate concentrate, in NFL-caliber athletes. The six major series investigating outcomes after the operative treatment of Jones fractures in NFL players reveal very positive findings overall with regard to RTP, reoperation, and career continuation.

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BACKGROUND: Hand in hand with technological advancements, treatment modalities continue to grow. With the turn of the century, the internet has become the number one source of information for almost every topic. Thus, many patients look toward the internet as their primary source of information to learn about their respective medical conditions. The American Medical Association and National Institute of Health strongly recommend that online medical information be written at the 6th to 8th-grade level to aid comprehension by patients of all literacy backgrounds. AIM: To assess the readability of online information regarding Jones fracture. Our hypothesis is that the reading level of medical information published on websites far exceeds the recommended reading level of 6th-8th grade as proposed by the American Medical Associate and National Institute of Health. The result of this study can help us formulate improved recommendations for publishing more comprehensible material and, thus, eventually improve patient compliance and clinical outcomes. METHODS: The exact phrase "Jones fracture" was queried on the three most common search engines, Google, Yahoo!, and Bing, on December 28, 2022. As of December 2022, Google held 84%, Bing held 9%, and Yahoo! held 2% of the worldwide search engine market share. Web pages uniform resource locator from the first three pages of search results were recorded from each search engine. These web pages were classified according to academic, physician-sponsored, governmental and non-government organizations (NGO), commercial, and unspecified as per formally defined categories. Websites associated with an educational institution or medical organization were classified as academic. Websites with products for sale, corporate sponsorship, or advertisements were classified as commercial. Governmental websites or NGOs comprised those that received government subsidies or grants. Webpages that were independently owned by physicians or physician groups were respectively classed as physician sponsored. The remainder of websites that did not fall under the above categories were classified as unspecified. RESULTS: A total of 93 websites were analyzed for reading assessment. A whopping 44% of websites were commercial, followed by 22% of physician-sponsored websites. Third place belonged to non-government organization websites holding a 15% share. The academic website held a meager 9% portion, while unspecified sites were 3%. The table illustrates mean readability scores, along with average cumulative grade level. The average grade level was 10.95 ± 2.28 for all websites, with a range of 6.18 to 18.90. Since P values were more than 0.05, there was not a significant statistical difference between the first page results and the results of all pages. Thus, we can rationalize that readability scores are consistent throughout all pages of a website. CONCLUSION: Hand in hand with technological advancements, treatment modalities continue to grow. With the turn of the century, the internet has become the number one source of information for almost every topic. Thus, many patients look towards the internet as the primary source of information to learn about their respective medical conditions. Our study demonstrates that current online medical information regarding Jones fracture is written at an extraordinarily high-grade level, with an average grade level of all websites at 10.95, nearly an 10th-grade educational level. The American Medical Association and National Institute of Health strongly recommend that online medical information should be written at the 6th to 8th-grade level to aid comprehension by patients of all literacy backgrounds. On the contrary, most of the medical information evaluated was at an 10th-grade level, which far exceeds recommendations by AMA and NIH. This is particularly relevant because readability scores are directly proportional to the level of comprehension attained by readers, thus directly impacting patient outcomes. In conclusion, we suggest and encourage that all online reading materials should be re-written at the 6th to 8th-grade level in a public service effort to increase compliance with treatment goals and raise awareness of preventive measures.

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Os vesalianum pedisis located proximal to the base of the fifth metatarsal. Rarely, this accessory ossicle can be the source of lateral foot pain. There are very few cases of symptomatic os vesalianum pedisdescribed in the literature, and most of them were surgically managed. We report a painful case of os vesalianum pedis managed conservatively. A 25-year-old professional soccer player presented with lateral left midfoot pain. There was no known acute sprain or trauma, and no history of injuries in the left lower limb. The athlete reported both mechanical and inflammatory pain findings and tenderness on the palpation of the fifth metatarsal base. We conducted a radiographic study of the left foot and found an image compatible with os vesalianum pedis​​​​​​​. A right foot X-ray was also performed, and similar findings were reported, although the athlete had no pain. The athlete was treated conservatively, and the return-to-play was seven days.  Due to the unspecific symptoms of our athlete, many diagnoses could be considered such as peroneus brevistendinopathy, lateral plantar fasciitis, ligamentum plantare longumsprain. However, the X-ray findings led us to other possible pathologies, mainly affecting the bone. Integrating clinical and radiological findings is mandatory to achieve a proper diagnosis and avoid mistakenly diagnosing a fracture such as a Jones fracture or pseudo-Jones fracture. Even though os vesalianum pedis​​​​​​​ is usually asymptomatic, this condition can lead to chronic pain. Well-designed conservative management should always be pursued to treat this condition as it might prevent the need for surgery.

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BACKGROUND: Classification of fifth metatarsal base fractures has been a source of confusion since originally described by Jones in 1902. Zone classifications have been described but never evaluated for reliability. The most recent classification, metaphyseal vs meta-diaphyseal, may be unknown to many surgeons. The purpose of this study was to evaluate reliability of American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) members classifying fifth metatarsal base fractures and current management of these fractures. METHODS: A survey was emailed to AOFAS members including radiographs of 18 fifth metatarsal base fractures. Demographic information was collected in addition to evaluation of the radiographs. Interrater reliability was assessed for each measurement: presence of Jones fracture, zone classification, and metaphyseal vs metaphyseal-diaphyseal, using Fleiss kappa. After 3 weeks, a second email was sent to the members asking to retake the survey to evaluate intrarater reliability. Respondents were asked which region is a Jones fracture, which classification is used, if symptomatic zone 2 and 3 fractures are treated similarly, and what fractures are operative in healthy symptomatic acute fractures. RESULTS: A total of 223 AOFAS members, with a median time in practice of 12 years (range 0-50), completed the initial survey. Eighty members (36%) repeated the survey for intrarater comparison. Interrater reliability was moderate for Jones and zone classification but substantial for the 2-zone metaphyseal/meta-diaphyseal classification. The median intrarater kappa was 0.78, 0.75, and 0.78 for Jones, zone, and metaphyseal/meta-diaphyseal respectively. Seventy percent of respondents treat zones 2 and 3 similarly, and approximately 60% consider an acute symptomatic fracture identified as Jones, zone 2 or zone 3 operative. CONCLUSION: A 2-zone system may be the best available classification for fifth metatarsal base fractures given high interrater reliability and 70% of AOFAS members treat zones 2 and 3 in similar fashion. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, diagnostic study.

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Intramedullary screw fixation is a well-established surgical treatment for fifth metatarsal Jones fractures, due to its minimally invasive nature, and potential early return to activity. Due to the curvature of the fifth metatarsal, optimal length of the screw is needed to prevent gapping at the fracture site. The placement of a straight screw induces straightening of a naturally curved bone. The purpose of this study was to aid surgeons in determining an appropriate screw length for intramedullary fixation of a fifth metatarsal Jones fracture in order to prevent fracture gapping. A transverse osteotomy of the fifth metatarsal was made in 10 cadaver specimens at the level of a traditional Jones fracture. Inserted screws were sequentially increased in length until plantar gapping at the fracture site was noted. The angle (degree) of plantar gapping was measured with each increase in screw length and diameter. The mean length of the cadaveric fifth metatarsals was 73.76 mm (range 67.42-81.73). The mean screw length that caused gapping at the fracture site was 49.89 mm (range 44-55), representing 67.05% (range 61.26-75.35) of the fifth metatarsal length. The correlation coefficient revealed that gapping of the fracture site is most likely to occur when the screw length is 66% the length of the metatarsal length (rs = 0.66; 95% confidence interval: 0.06-0.91; p = .04). The angle of the initial gapping was 2.85° (range 2°-4°). With an incremental increase in screw length, the angle was 3.85° (range 3°-6°), and with an incremental increase in screw diameter, the angle was 3.70° (range 2°-5°). Our study demonstrated that screw lengths exceeding 66% of the metatarsal length lead to plantar fracture gapping. Additionally, gapping was accentuated with larger diameter screws due to angle variance.

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Surgery with autologous bone grafting for proximal fifth metatarsal diaphyseal stress fracture has a potential to decrease nonunion, but it is not performed widely as the primary surgery because of donor-site morbidity. We have devised and performed a less invasive surgical procedure with autologous bone grafting and aimed to investigate the clinical and radiologic outcomes of this procedure. The data for 73 patients who underwent primary intramedullary screw fixation with autologous bone grafting from the fifth metatarsal base for proximal fifth metatarsal diaphyseal stress fractures were investigated retrospectively. The clinical and radiologic outcomes were evaluated. The mean time to bone union, starting running, and return to play was 11.8, 6.3, and 13.4 weeks, respectively. Bone union was achieved in 76 of the 78 cases. Intramedullary screw fixation with autologous bone grafting from the fifth metatarsal base showed good outcomes. It may be a useful surgical option for patients with proximal fifth metatarsal diaphyseal stress fractures.

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