Long Jiao, Juan Xi, Aicui Lin
Department of Rehabilitation, Kunshan Rehabilitation Hospital, Kunshan, China.
DOI: 10.2340/20030711-1000068

In China, the stable type of fifth metatarsal base fracture is usually treated by rehabilitation methods after the limbs have been fixed for approximately 4 weeks. A 37-year-old woman fractured her fifth metatarsal base, with a stable fracture type. From the second day of the fracture onward, she agreed to participate in rehabilitative treatment that did not involve surgery or long-term fixation. Fourteen days after the fracture, the patient was able to bear 100% of her body weight and stand for 20 min in a normal posture with supportive elbow crutches. She was able to return to work with double elbow crutches after 25 days. On the 30th day after the fracture, the patient was able to walk 300 m outdoors without any walking aids and with no discomfort. Two months after the fracture, the patient went jogging and was participating in all of her normal daily activities. This case shows that, for stable type fractures of the fifth metatarsal base, rehabilitation starting on the second day after the fracture can help accelerate the patient's return to normal physical activities.

In China, the stable type of fifth metatarsal base fracture is usually treated by rehabilitation methods after the limbs have been fixed for approximately 4 weeks. A 37-year-old female agreed to undergo rehabilitation treatment, without surgery or long-term fixation, from the second day of the fracture onward. Fourteen days after the fracture, the patient was able to bear 100% of her body weight and stand for 20 min in a normal posture with supportive elbow crutches. She was able to return to work with double elbow crutches on the 25th day. On the 30th day after the fracture, the patient was able to walk 300 m outdoors without any walking aids, and with no any discomfort. Two months after the fracture, the patient went jogging and was participating in all of her normal daily activities.