Foot fractures are afflictions that are sometimes overlooked, with the sufferer not being aware of his or her problem. How does this happen, you wonder?  Well, they may feel pain or soreness in their foot, but if the nature of the fracture is not severe, and the sufferer does not have it looked at by a podiatrist, it can be overlooked.  Other times, a foot fracture cannot be missed, as the pain of it simply unbearable.  Some foot fractures end athletes’ careers, and plague them for life.  Others heal nicely, and the person who experienced it is lucky to have it become only a distant memory.  This is the scenario one would obviously hope for. 

When we see patients suffering from foot fractures that are severe, it is always a sad scenario, especially if they are an athlete.  One type of foot fracture we see many athletes suffer from is a “Jones fracture”.  A Jones fracture occurs at the fifth metatarsal in the foot, which is located at the base of the pinky toe.  This is a common fracture for those who are physically active, and is a fairly common injury that podiatrists encounter.  It’s named after orthopedic surgeon Robert Jones, who first identified the injury by self-diagnosis!  He suffered the ailment while dancing, which is why it is also referred to as the “Dancer’s fracture”.  This fracture is often mistaken for a sprain, or an avulsion fracture.  For this reason, it is always important to have your injury diagnosed as soon as possible.  Because the area of the Jones fracture has a very small blood supply, these fractures disrupt that already small blood supply, and due to this, can take much longer to heal!  They may also require surgery for treatment!  Professional athletes suffering from this injury typically miss 6-8 weeks from their season due to the injury.

If you suspect you are suffering from a foot fracture, call Dr. Stuto!  He has two convenient Brooklyn locations for his patients to visit.  So, if you are experiencing foot pain, don’t ignore it… it could be more serious than you realize.  Have it looked at by Dr. Stuto, to make sure you’re not dealing with something more serious than a simple ache and pain… better safe than sorry!  If you have a foot fracture, he can help you get on the road to recovery, as soon as possible.