Early Return To Play After Intramedullary Screw Fixation Of Jones Fractures In Collegiate Athletes: 23 Year Experience

OBJECTIVES: There is a general consensus that Jones fractures should be treated operatively with an intramedullary screw in high-level athletes. However, there is disagreement among team physicians, without conclusive evidence as to when the athlete should be allowed to return to play. The objective of this study is to report our experience of early return to sport in collegiate athletes after intramedullary screw fixation of Jones Fractures. METHODS: All skeletally mature collegiate athletes with a true Jones fracture of the base of the fifth metatarsal that was treated by one of two orthopaedic surgeons with operative intramedullary screw fixation over a 23 year period (1994-2016) were identified and records reviewed retrospectively. All return to play and complication data was obtained from the athletic trainer database at the two universities. Fixation consisted of a single intramedullary screw (10 partially threaded cannulated screws, 13 cannulated variable pitch screws, 3 solid screws). The athletes were allowed to weight bear as tolerated in a CAM boot immediately postoperatively, and return to play with a carbon fiber insert as soon as they could tolerate activity. In 2016, patients were contacted to complete patient reported outcome scores that included the Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM) score and a brief survey specific to our study, as well as follow-up radiographs if possible. RESULTS: 26 Jones Fractures were treated in 25 collegiate athletes. The average age was 20 years (18-23). Overall, athletes returned to play or training at an average of 3.5 weeks (1.5-6). All in-season athletes returned to play within 4.5 weeks (1.5-4.5). Off-season athletes returned to play within 4-6 weeks. There were no cases of nonunion (clinically or radiographically). Three screws were removed due to symptomatic skin irritation. There was one re-fracture following screw removal after documented radiographic and clinical fracture union. This patient was treated with repeat cannulated percutaneous screw fixation. The athlete returned to play in 2 weeks. One screw was noted to be broken on an ankle radiograph 1 year post-op, but the fracture was healed and the athlete was playing division 1 sports without symptoms, and continued professionally without symptoms. 18/25 athletes completed patient reported outcome scores at an average of 7.95 years (range 1.2-17) follow-up. The average estimated percent of normal for activities of daily living was 93.8% (70-100%, and for athletic participation was 90.3% (40-100%). Follow up radiographs were obtained on 13/26 fractures at an average of 6.48 years (range 1.2-16) with no nonunion, malunion, or additional hardware complications identified. CONCLUSION: Athletes with Jones fractures can safely be allowed to return to play after intramedullary screw fixation as soon as their symptoms allow without significant complications. In our experience, this is usually within 4 weeks from injury.