A STUDY OF METATARSAL FRACTURES IN CHILDREN

The purpose of our study was to document the sites and distribution of mid-Foot and fore-foot fractures in children, relating them to the pa ttern of injury with particular reference to the first metatarsal. The clinical records and radiographs of 388 children with foot injuries w ere examined. A total of 62 metatarsal and seven tarsal fractures were identified in 60 children. The commonest fracture was of the fifth me tatarsal, 45 per cent overall; 90 per cent of these children were over 10 years old. In children under 5 years old, first metatarsal fractur es accounted for 73 per cent, but in children over 5 years old, these fractures accounted for only 12 per cent of the total. In all, 6.5 per cent of all fractures and 20 per cent of first metatarsal fractures w ent unrecognized at the initial attendance.