Virtual Fracture Clinic (VFC)
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
Colchester Hospital
For clinic appointments /admin, call 01206 746 543, Monday to Friday, 8am–4pm
For clinical issues related to the VFC only, call 07717 367 583, Mon to Fri, 9am–5pm
Discharge advice following attendance with a foot (5th metatarsal base) fracture
You have broken a bone on the outer part of your foot.
The fracture has occurred in a part of the metatarsal bone which normally heals well without problems.
The pain, tenderness and swelling you are experiencing in the foot should gradually settle over a period of several weeks.
During this time, you may find walking on the foot painful – it may help to walk on the heel initially.
You will be provided with a removable boot support for the foot. If required, you will also be provided with crutches.
You may walk on the foot as much as pain allows. The removable boot can usually be discarded gradually between four and six weeks after the injury as the pain settles.
The usual healing time is 6–8 weeks, but it may take several months for the foot to feel normal again.
Occasionally the fracture may fail to heal (smoking is a risk factor) and continue to be painful even after several months. A surgical procedure may be needed at this stage to help heal the fracture.
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