Stress Fractures of the Fifth Metatarsal in Athletes

Stress fractures of the fifth metatarsal (zones 2 and 3) remain a challenging clinical problem. It has been well established that nonsurgical treatment has unacceptably high nonunion and refracture rates. Surgical fixation remains the treatment of choice in the athletic cohort, and intramedullary screw fixation with a solid screw has been established as the most predictable means of achieving a successful outcome. Recently, the use of a plantar plate has also been advocated as has been shown in some studies to be more biomechanically advantageous. The use of bone grafting at the primary surgery and morphology and screw type are also important decisions to be made when treating these patients. This review will discuss our management of both primary fractures and refractures of the fifth metatarsal in athletes.