Pain with a midfoot fracture

A metatarsal fracture is the fracture of one or more bones of the metatarsus. The metatarsus is located between the tarsal bones and phalanges and is the counterpart to the palm of the hand on the foot. In medical jargon, a metatarsal fracture is also referred to as a metatarsal fracture.

A metatarsal fracture can cause great pain and severely restrict the affected person’s everyday mobility. There is a difference in treatment between the complicated and the simple metatarsal fracture: Simple fractures can be treated by immobilization, while complicated fractures require surgical treatment. The therapy also focuses on combating the pain, which can be very severe in the case of a metatarsal fracture.

Causes

Among the causes of a metatarsal fracture are traumatic events: If an object falls onto the foot from a great height, either the distal phalanges of the toes or the metatarsus are usually affected. Such fractures are particularly common in construction or factories. It is not without reason that safety precautions often apply in these areas, requiring shoes reinforced with steel toecaps.

Another cause of metatarsal fractures is found in competitive sports, where a permanent load on the metatarsus can also lead to a fracture in extreme cases. This case is actually relatively common and is referred to as a fatigue fracture. It occurs when the bones are mechanically overstressed over a long period of time.

This can be the case, for example, with marathon runners. This type of fracture is also typically called “marching fracture” in the case of the Federation, as it can occur after long marches with a lot of luggage and inadequate footwear. These are just a few of the other causes of metatarsal fractures: Inappropriate, oppressive footwear can promote a fracture. In addition, with every kilogram of body weight, the strain on the fine statics of the arch of the foot increases. If jumps are also performed or – as in a forest run – unevenness often has to be compensated, this becomes more difficult.