[Impaired gait after base fractures of the 5th metatarsal bone]

Between 1982 and 1990, twenty fractures of the base of the fifth metatarsal were treated operatively and followed up for a mean of 4.5 years (range: 1-9 years). All patients were evaluated clinically, roentgenographically and with kinetic gait analysis. A scoring system was used to record and evaluate the clinical and radiological data. Nine patients had an excellent result and nine a good result; one patient had a fair and one a poor result. Examination by kinetic gait analysis showed a gait asymmetry in eleven of the twenty patients, with decreased load on the formerly injured areas of the involved foot and increased load on the corresponding areas of the contralateral foot. However, only three patients had a clinically visible gait disorder. We believe that the gait disorder described is an automatically adopted movement pattern. Its cause lies in the initial pain after the trauma and during the postoperative care and sometimes continues even after the cessation of pain. Kinetic gait analysis allows quantification of asymmetry of gait and clinically non-visible load disorder. Therefore, pain and established gait asymmetry are clinically relevant in such patients because they can be treated specifically.