Jones Fracture Fixation fracture fixation

A Jones fracture is a break at the junction where the base of the fifth metatarsal meets its shaft — what surgeons call zone 2 of the fifth metatarsal. It sits just behind the little toe on the outer edge of the foot. This is a specific injury, not the same as the more common avulsion fracture (zone 1) at the very tip of the bone, and the distinction matters because the two heal very differently.

What makes a Jones fracture tricky is the blood supply. This part of the bone sits in a watershed zone — the area where two blood supplies meet and neither delivers much flow. Because of that, Jones fractures are prone to slow healing, delayed union, or nonunion (a break that never fully knits back together). That is why a fracture here is treated more aggressively than a simple toe-side break.

Jones fracture fixation stabilizes the bone surgically so it can heal reliably. The most common technique places a single screw down the center of the bone to compress and hold the fracture ends together. For athletes, dancers, and active adults — and for fractures that have already failed to heal in a cast — surgery is frequently recommended over casting alone because it lowers the risk of nonunion and gets people back on their feet sooner. Your surgeon will weigh your activity level, the look of the fracture on imaging, and your health history before recommending a path.

Jones fracture fixation is almost always an outpatient procedure — you go home the same day. Here is what it generally involves:

• Anesthesia — most cases are done under regional or general anesthesia, often with a local block so the foot is comfortable afterward.
• Small incision — your surgeon makes a short incision near the base of the fifth metatarsal, on the outer edge of the foot, taking care to protect the nearby sural nerve.
• Intramedullary screw — using live X-ray (fluoroscopy) for guidance, a solid or cannulated screw is passed down the hollow center (the medullary canal) of the bone, across the fracture line. The screw compresses the two ends together and holds them in place. Surgeons choose the largest screw that fits the canal, since a snug fit improves stability.
• Bone grafting when needed — for fractures that have already failed to heal, or that show a wide gap or hardened (sclerotic) edges, your surgeon may add a small amount of bone graft to encourage healing.
• Closure and imaging — the incision is closed, and final X-rays confirm the screw position and fracture alignment before you leave.

The whole procedure usually takes under an hour. Because the fix is rigid and internal, many patients begin protected weight-bearing sooner than they would with a cast alone — though the exact timeline is set by your surgeon based on the fracture and how it looks on follow-up X-rays.

At LAOSS, our foot & ankle specialists combine advanced surgical expertise with a patient-first approach. From minimally invasive arthroscopic techniques to reconstruction, fracture care, and arthritis management, our physicians bring decades of experience to every case. Trusted across Los Angeles, our team is dedicated to restoring mobility, relieving pain, and helping you return to the activities you love.

At LAOSS, expert foot and ankle care is close to home. With same- or next-day appointments at eight Los Angeles-area offices and on-site X-ray at most locations, you won't wait weeks for a clear diagnosis — and an accurate diagnosis matters here, because a Jones fracture is easy to confuse with a less serious avulsion fracture nearby.

Our board-certified specialists treat the full range of fifth metatarsal injuries, from casting and protected weight-bearing for fractures that can heal on their own, to intramedullary screw fixation for athletes and for breaks that have stalled. We coordinate physical therapy in your insurance network and follow your healing with repeat imaging so you return to running or sport only when the bone is ready.

Call or schedule online to begin your recovery with a trusted foot and ankle specialist in Los Angeles.