NFL and Fifth Metatarsal Fractures: Marvin Jones

The NFL season opens tonight, and fans across the country are excited for a great season of football. There were several injuries during preseason play as players tried to earn spots or maintain their spots on NFL teams. Marvin Jones of the Bengals sustained a fracture of his fifth metatarsal in August. The fifth metatarsal is on the outside of the foot and attaches to the fifth toe. Fractures of the fifth metatarsal can occur anywhere along the bone and may be due to trauma or repeat pressure on the bone. There is a portion of this bone that has a weak blood supply, and this is a common area for fractures, such as the Jones Fracture. Additionally, the very end of the bone may be subject to an avulsion fracture, due to pressure where a major tendon, the peroneus brevis, attaches. When a patient fractures the fifth metatarsal, there is pain, swelling, and difficulty putting pressure on the area. Whether surgery is indicated depends on the severity of the injury, bone density, and the activity level of the patient. Some patient do very well with conservative, nonsurgical care. However, elite athletes, such as Jones, typically have surgery on this injury. If you have foot or ankle pain, visit us! 708-763-0580