The fracture of the base of the fifth metatarsal constitutes a traumatic lesion frequently encountered [1]. In recent literature it is recognized that the fifth metatarsal is most often fractured during a trauma than the other metatarsals [2] [3].

The fracture of the base of the fifth metatarsal includes the Jones fracture described by Sir Robert Jones in 1902, the avulsion fracture affecting the styloid process and the more distal stress fracture located at the diaphyseal level [4]. The etiology is very varied. When it is linked to stresses, depending on its intensity, the resulting fracture is classified into two types: stress fractures and insufficiency fractures [5] [6]. The crude nature of the clinical signs resulting from stress-linked fractures and the habit of some of our patients to solicit first traditional therapists often delay diagnosis. Their therapeutic management of this kind of fracture remains controversial but depends essentially on the level of physical activity and the age of the patients. The Jones fracture is characterized by an often long healing time and a relatively high frequency of non-union [4]. Its occurrence in fragile bone is a rare entity. We report an exceptional case of bilateral fracture of the base of the fifth metatarsal on a site of osteoporomalacia.

Ms. FC, teacher, 48 years old, with a history of high blood pressure, parathyroidectomy for goiter (for 3 years) and rheumatoid arthritis treated with corticosteroid therapy (14 months) consulted for a fibular pain of both feet. She had been suffering for about 7 months following a minimal trauma by a false step to the right in a context of overweight. The mechanism was indirect with a forced inversion type, the forefoot being fixed to the ground and the heel raised. This pain was chronic, aggravated by physical activity and reduced at rest. Ms FC has been followed by a traditional healer. Physical examination found a discrete swelling on the fibular edge of both feet with exquisite pain points opposite the base of the fifth metatarsals (Figure 1). The neurovascular examination was without particularity. The radiographic incidences of the front and profile of the feet made it possible to object to a rupture of the two cortices with widening of the fracture line due to bone resorption (Figure 2). The spinal canal was obstructed. These lesions were confirmed by computed tomography (Figure 3). The diagnosis of tight pseudarthrosis on the left and loose on the right of the base of the fifth metatarsal was retained. The patient underwent bilateral pseudarthrosis treatment. She was installed in supine position on an ordinary table,

under anesthesia spine and pneumatic tourniquet placed at the root of the member. The operating technique was identical for both sides. The approach was posterolateral curvilinear. The banks of the fracture were revived and the medullary canal re-stabilized (Figure 4 and Figure 5). After interposition of a spongy graft taken from the left iliac crest, screwing with a malleolar screw was performed. The post-operative radiographic checks were satisfactory (Figure 6 and Figure 7). The operating suites were simple. After a 9-month follow-up, a consolidation was obtained with painless feet allowing the patient to return to work.

The fifth metatarsal has been identified as the most commonly fractured metatarsal except in children under 15 years of age [2] [3] [7]. The fracture of its base described by Sir Robert Jones in 1896 is the source of etiological, prognostic and therapeutic confusion [8]. This frequent fracture of the foot has been often studied in the military, athletes and the European population [7] [9] [10]. This lesion is usually mono lateral, its occurrence on the 2 feet is an exception, few cases have been described in the literature. Smith [11] reports a post traumatic bilateral case. There are risk factors such as high body mass index, old age and diabetes. The postmenopausal female subject is often affected, due to the fall of estrogen. In general, osteoporosis increases the risk of fracture [12]. Singer and col. have demonstrated the high incidence of osteoporotic fractures in women from their fifties. By studying the results of the National Osteoporosis Risk Assessment (NORA), they clearly showed the relationship between low bone density and the relative risk of fracture [13] [14]. Our patient had several risk factors for stress fractures, namely menopause, overweight and osteoporosis. Indeed, post-cortisonic osteoporosis, conventionally a provider of micro fractures, and osteomalacia following the surgical castration of parathyroids with chronic hypocalcemia were selected as our main etiological factors unlike the case described by Smith [11] or a traumatic origin had been clearly found. The spontaneous or micro-trauma nature of the fracture was retained due to the bilateral aspect and the acquired bone fragility, even if minimal trauma was mentioned.

In 1960, Stewart defined the Jones fracture as a transverse fracture at the junction between the diaphysis and the metaphysis, with no distal extension to the inter metatarsal joint [15]. Later, the term “Jones fracture” was also used for diaphyseal fractures. Thus these two types of fractures were grouped under the name of “fractures of the base of the fifth metatarsal distal to the tuberosity” or “fractures involving the proximal part of the diaphysis distal to the tuberosity” [15] [16]. Due to the lack of differentiation between the real Jones fracture and the diaphyseal stress fracture, these two types of fracture are generally treated in the same way [17] [18]. TORG has identified three types of lesion since 1985: the avulsion fracture from the base in zone 1, the so-called Jones fracture in zone 2 to 1.5 cm from the metaphysis [19] [20], the metaphyso-diaphyseal fracture in zone 3 [15]. Our bilateral fracture was classified type 2 or Jones fracture.

The therapeutic management of this fracture remains controversial [4] [8]. Some authors have mentioned the difficulty of treating Jones fractures which very often progress to non-union linked to the precariousness of the vascularization [4]. In the literature these fractures are discovered at an earlier stage. Their treatment was mainly orthopedic by performing a plastered splint without loading for six to eight weeks [19] [20]. The operative indication is mainly asked in relation to the age of the fracture and the level of physical activity of the patient [20]. According to Bowes [21] surgical treatment is recommended if there is more than three to four millimeters of displacement or ten degrees of plantar angulation of the fractures and that a closed reduction is not sufficient. In athletes, bone fixation is done by intramedullary screwing or by a plate and allows to obtain a rapid consolidation and an early resumption of activities of almost 50% compared to orthopedic treatment [20] [22]. The fractures in our patient were diagnosed at the stage of tight non-union on the left and loose on the right. This stage of discovery is usual in our context after failure of traditional treatment. The treatment in our case was surgical by bone grafting and screwing unlike the case described by Smith.

The bilateral fracture of the base of the fifth metatarsal remains a frequent lesion. The spontaneous nature and the failure or the delay of the consolidation and the bilaterality must always motivate the search for a non-traumatic etiological factor. The persistent symptomatic nature should make screwing with or without a bone graft preferable to conservative orthopedic treatment.

The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper.

Diallo, M., Toure, L., Traoré, L., Moussa, A.K., Beye, S.A., Camara, M., Kane, M. and Coulibaly, T. (2020) Bilateral Fracture of the Base of the Fifth Metatarsal. A Case Report and Review of the Literature. Surgical Science, 11, 32-38. https://doi.org/10.4236/ss.2020.112005