Be Alert for Jones Fractures.

In brief Jones fractures must be distinguished from styloid fractures of the fifth metatarsal. Although the difference is only 1.5 cm along the length of the metatarsal, if a patient sustains a Jones fracture and the injury is treated as if the styloid were broken, the bone either will fail to heal or will heal very slowly. Conservative therapy for Jones fractures is sometimes appropriate, but it involves several months of immobilization. Operative treatment usually involves medullary compression screw fixation for acute fractures, and compression screw or bone grafting for chronic fractures.