Symptoms of a metatarsal fracture

In the case of a metatarsal fracture, the symptoms differ depending on how severe the fracture is:

  • If only one of the metatarsals is broken, the discomfort can only be moderate
  • If, however, adjacent bones are also broken and possibly surrounding structures such as tendons, ligaments or parts of the soft tissue are also injured, more pronounced symptoms will result.

Almost all affected people complain about pain, which can vary in intensity from case to case. As a rule, the pain worsens when the foot is strained, which often makes it impossible for it to occur. Almost always the ability to bear weight is at least limited.

In many cases, this pain is accompanied by swelling of the foot and/or bruising. Under certain circumstances, it is possible that the broken and displaced bones (pieces of bone) cause the foot to be malpositioned, and that the foot is clearly deformed and thus exhibits abnormal mobility. If there is an open fracture, there may be an open wound from which there is bleeding and from which bone parts protrude.

A dreaded complication of a metatarsal fracture is the so-called compartment syndrome. In this clinical picture, vessels are injured within the fracture and it bleeds into the soft tissue. This bleeding can sometimes lead to a strong increase in pressure in the affected tissue.

Ultimately, this can result in blood vessels or nerves being squeezed and thus their functions being restricted. As a result of this circulatory disorder, the foot is no longer supplied with sufficient oxygen and nutrients, which can lead to tissue damage which, if not detected in time, can lead to the death of the tissue and ultimately to the loss of the foot. For this reason, it is necessary to become aware of symptoms such as pronounced swelling and, above all, circulatory disorders or feelings of numbness, and to initiate a therapy as soon as possible to relieve the tissue from the excessive pressure.