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Keywords

Patient education, healthcare information technology, preceptor training and development

Abstract

Avulsion fractures of the fifth metatarsal bone occur when a portion of the bone is broken or pulled off the rest of the bone. These fractures are often seen in athletes, especially those of a young age. Avulsion fractures of the fifth metatarsal bone are commonly treated non-surgically with immobilization of the foot. There are several different options for immobilization of the foot with no clear result as to which immobilization method is the most effective. The purpose of this evidence-to-practice review was to summarize a systematic review on comparative outcomes of immobilization interventions on avulsion fractures of the fifth metatarsal. The authors included five studies in this review that compared two intervention methods including short leg casting and removable splinting of the foot. The authors reviewed foot function scores and non-union rates of the foot. It was found that both foot function scores and non-union rates of the fifth metatarsal bone were better in the removable splinting intervention group. From the results of this evidence-to-practice review, we recommend the use of a removable splint for avulsion fractures of the fifth metatarsal bone.

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