Broken foot (fractured metatarsal) Waewae tāwhatiwhati

The long, straight bones in the middle of your foot are your metatarsal bones. They can break from sudden injury or repeated stress over time.

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Causes of a broken foot

Metatarsal bones can break when a heavy object falls on your foot. The outside bone can also break because of a twisting injury at the ankle, or by kicking a heavy object.

Some people, such as long-distance runners, can develop stress fractures in these bones, caused by repeated force on their feet.

Symptoms of a broken foot

Symptoms of a broken foot are likely to include:

  • pain in the area of the broken bone
  • swelling over the bone that is broken
  • difficulty and pain when trying to stand or walk.

If you have a stress fracture, these symptoms might come on gradually.

Diagnosing a broken foot

If you think you might have a broken foot, talk to:

  • your healthcare provider
  • a physiotherapist
  • a podiatrist.

They will talk to you about your symptoms and do a physical exam. You will need to have an x-ray.

You might need another scan, such as a CT or MRI, if the x-rays are not clear.

Treating a broken foot

A broken metatarsal can be treated in different ways.

If your broken bone is in a good (normal) position and is not moving out of place, you may be put into a plaster cast or a moonboot to support your foot and stop the broken bone from moving while it heals.

You may have a follow-up appointment at hospital 1 to 2 weeks after your injury to check how well you are healing. This may include an x-ray. Some healthcare providers will be able to look after you without the need to see a specialist.

If the metatarsal on the outside of your foot has a small break (an avulsion fracture), it may be treated with a tubular bandage and crutches to help you walk.

If you need an operation

You might need an operation to move the bones into the right position and fix them in place. This will happen if:

  • the broken bones are not aligned or are unstable
  • you have also dislocated the joint of your bone.

This may involve using a metal plate, screws or wires. Your orthopaedic surgeon will talk with you about this before any surgery.

Before and after the surgery, you may have a plaster cast or backslab (a half cast on the back of your leg) to support your leg and foot and stop the broken bones from moving.

Getting help with a broken foot

In hospital

If you are in hospital, a physiotherapist or occupational therapist may look to see what help you might need at home. They will arrange this for you.

Your physiotherapist will also teach you how to walk with a walking frame or crutches without putting too much weight on your leg.

At home

If you are not in hospital — or have left hospital — and need help with a walking frame or crutches, talk to your healthcare provider.

To help you regain your normal movement and strength, a physiotherapist will advise you on exercises you should do and will help you return to your normal activities and sports. Your treatment may include:

  • active range of motion
  • strengthening
  • balance exercises
  • mobilisations.

A podiatrist may be able to provide ACC-funded orthotics to help stabilise your foot and ankle during your recovery and can discuss the best footwear choices to help your rehabilitation.

ACC may be able to provide help while you are not fit for work, such as home help or taxis to appointments, as well as work compensation payments.

The Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) is a government agency that helps pay for treatment if you are injured in an accident.

The ACC provides comprehensive, no-fault personal injury cover for all residents and visitors to Aotearoa New Zealand. This means if you are hurt in an accident, ACC can help no matter who caused the accident.

If you have an accident and need emergency care in a hospital, it will be covered by ACC.

ACC usually pays some of the other medical costs if you have an accident, like surgery, physiotherapy and medicines. ACC may also be able to cover some loss of earnings resulting from an accident.

I'm injured — The Accident Compensation Corporation

Self care for a broken foot

If your foot is painful, take simple painkillers such as paracetamol. If these do not help, see your healthcare provider for a prescription for something that might work better.

Pain relief medicines for adults

If you have a plaster cast, you will need to take care of it correctly.

Your healthcare provider will tell you how much weight you can put on your leg.

Raise your leg when you are resting to help reduce any swelling. You may feel some numbness or tingling in your leg or foot. This will eventually get better.

You should try to get moving as soon as possible. This helps to prevent problems that can happen with long periods of bed rest. Problems include:

  • deep vein thrombosis
  • infections
  • muscle weakness.

If you are given a tubular bandage, such as Tubigrip, to wear after your cast is removed, wear it like a sock from your knee to your toes, with no wrinkles. Only wear it in the daytime. Do not wear it in bed at night.

If your skin is excessively dry when your cast is removed, try:

  • soaking your leg in warm soapy water
  • drying it well
  • rubbing in some hand cream.