Midfoot Fracture or Stress Fracture
What is it: Stress fractures or acute fractures can occur in any of the midfoot bones.
How does it present: Stress fractures usually present with gradual increasing pain with activity. Acute fractures usually present after trauma.
Common exam findings: Exam may reveal tenderness over the bony areas.
Tests and treatment: Foot x-rays may reveal either stress fractures or acute fractures. A bone scan may be needed to evaluated for stress fractures that don’t show up on routine x-rays. A CT or MRI may be indicated to further evaluate acute fractures of the midfoot. Many acute fractures of the midfoot should be referred to orthopedics for management. In particular, navicular stress fractures or fractures should be immobilized and made non-weightbearing.