Little finger pain and swelling? it could be because of a broken leg!

There are many types of leg fractures, one of the most common and quite serious being the Jones fracture. A person who has this problem will experience bruises and swelling in the legs, making it difficult to support body weight and walk.

What is a Jones fracture?

Source: Medical News Today

A Jones fracture is a fracture of the foot in the fifth metatarsal bone in the toe. The fifth metatarsal is the long bone on the outside of the foot that connects to the smallest toe or little finger. The term Jones fracture was first introduced by Sir Robert Jones, an orthopedic surgeon who in 1902 injured his leg.

This type of fracture is among the most serious because the site of the injury receives less blood than the rest of the leg. As a result, healing has become more difficult.

Causes of the Jones fracture

The cause of this one leg fracture usually occurs due to sudden trauma to the leg. For example, accidentally dropping a heavy object on the leg.

The main function of the metatarsal bones is to help balance a person while standing and walking. Because this bone is very useful and used in everyday life, it is usually easily injured. This injury can also result from a severe injury to the leg that causes the metatarsal bone to break or fracture.

Symptoms of a Jones fracture

A Jones fracture shares many of the same symptoms as other types of fractures. Some of the symptoms that are felt when a person experiences this type of leg fracture, namely:

• Pain and swelling on the outside of the foot at the base of the little finger.
• It's hard to walk.
• Bruises.

How do doctors diagnose a Jones fracture?

If you or someone close to you experience trauma or sudden attack to the leg bones, see an orthopedic surgeon as soon as possible. Usually the doctor starts the examination by asking how the injury happened. The doctor will also ask you when and what kind of pain you feel in the injured leg.

Then the doctor will examine your foot by pressing different areas of the foot to see how you react and find out which parts have problems with the injury you experienced. For greater accuracy, the doctor will diagnose you with an X-ray (X-ray) to see the condition of your feet clearly.

You need emergency medical care if your injured leg has:

• The swelling gets worse with pain, numbness, and tingling in the injured leg, ankle, or leg as a whole.
• The injured skin turns purple in color.
• Fever.

Because a Jones fracture is a serious and often difficult to treat leg fracture, don't ignore the condition. Immediately see a doctor after you experience an injury so that the doctor can immediately diagnose the condition of your foot and provide the right treatment.

Treatment options for a Jones fracture

There are various ways to treat this one leg fracture. Usually the treatment plan depends on:

• The severity of the injury, one of which is how much damage was caused.
• Age of the patient, because usually children recover faster from this condition than adults and the elderly.
• Overall health condition.
• Patient activity level.

Here are some treatment methods for a Jones fracture:

1. Surgery

Surgery is performed to screw the metatarsal bones into place. These screws help the bone to bend and rotate after healing. Usually when installing the doctor will use the help of X-rays to place the screw in the right position. In this process, the doctor can also use bone plates and other components to help secure the screws that are installed. One technique used involves removing the damaged bone around the fracture and replacing it with a bone graft before implanting the screw.

Your surgeon will also use a bone healing stimulator by supplying a low electric current to the fracture site to promote healing. This is especially true if the healing process is slow.

Recovery time from surgery takes approximately 7 weeks. In addition, you will also be asked to maintain an ideal body weight so that your feet are not weighed too heavily.

Quoted from Healthline, a study in 2012 stated that 97 percent of Jones fracture sufferers recover after surgery by placing screws in the bones.

2. Non-surgical treatment

Non-surgical or non-surgical treatment involves the use of a leg support device so that the injured leg is not burdened by body weight. You are usually advised to use crutches as a walking aid in the healing process.

However, this process usually takes longer to heal than surgery, which is about 8 weeks.

Complications of a Jones fracture

Due to limited blood flow to the area, a Jones fracture may not be as healing as it used to be compared to other metatarsal fractures, unless the surgical procedure is selected. In some cases, 15-20 percent of people who choose nonsurgical treatment do not recover.

The possible complications include:

• The existence of blood clots as a side effect of surgery and anesthesia.
• Requires surgery more than once.
• Shrinkage of muscle tissue.
• Continuous pain.

The healing process for leg fractures

The duration of healing for this condition depends on the type of treatment and the condition of each person. After treatment you need to do the following three tips:

• Maintain ideal body weight.
• Lifting the injured leg every day for 2-3 weeks.
• Get as much rest as possible and avoid doing strenuous activities.

Usually, Jones fracture patients can return to normal activities after 3-4 months of treatment. The doctor will also usually recommend physical therapy and exercise to help the healing process. Here are tips that you can practice to support the healing process, namely:

• Do not lean on the injured leg. Better to use crutches.
• Try to keep the injured leg in an elevated position. For example, when you are sitting, place your feet on another chair with cushions underneath.
• Apply an ice pack to your foot for 20 minutes several times a day, especially in the early post-treatment period.
• Take vitamin D or calcium supplements if prescribed to help with bone healing.
• Take ibuprofen or naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn) when you feel pain in the first 24 hours.
• Avoid smoking because smokers are usually at high risk for failure to heal.