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Which foot bone did Alexander fracture? (1 Viewer)

shuke

shuke

Black Ice Skeptic
I've now read more than a couple dozen articles/reports on this injury, and I can't find one that specifically describes the injury.

Even more interesting is that 75% of the reports are calling it a fracture to a "non-weight bearing bone" in the foot. There's no such thing. There are 26 bones in the foot and they all transfer load.

 
shuke said:
shadow2k said:
Fourth Metatarsal
Click to expand...
Thank you.Calling the the fourth metatarsal "non-weight bearing" is completely laughable.

Beware.
Click to expand...
Maybe they were meaning something like his non-weight bearing leg? Like maybe is less dominant leg or his non plant leg. Either way, stepping/stomping on a broken bone will probably feel just about as good as TO getting the ball slammed into his broken hand everytime he catches the ball. Not that he will feel it though with all those meds pumping through his system right now. :)
 
The fourth metatarsal is a slacker I tell you that. Just sitting there all day long lollygagging, leaving all the hard work for no 3 and 5. Lazy bum. :thumbsdown:

 
broncofan13000 said:
shuke said:
shadow2k said:
Fourth Metatarsal
Click to expand...
Thank you.Calling the the fourth metatarsal "non-weight bearing" is completely laughable.

Beware.
Click to expand...
You seem to know what your talking about. What would be a reasonable estimate to fully heal that particular break in your opinion?edit to add: in your opinion...
Click to expand...
the 4th metatarsal is the middle bone in the 4th toe (next to pinkie toe). I have had a break there before (on my other foot) and although it does hurt like hell, with the right shoe you can still run. If the reports are true, he has a broken toe. 2-3 weeks.
 
shuke said:
shadow2k said:
Fourth Metatarsal
Click to expand...
Thank you.Calling the the fourth metatarsal "non-weight bearing" is completely laughable.

Beware.
Click to expand...
True. They're all weight-bearing bones. The distinction, which probably isn't made very well, is that many of the bones in the foot (metatarsals include) can heal while weight bearing in many instances (walking cast, boot) and it's not uncommon for people with only slight fractures of a metatarsal to have little enough discomfort that they can walk with pain. That's not the case with the larger lower leg weight bearing bones.
 
The Deathstar said:
broncofan13000 said:
shuke said:
shadow2k said:
Fourth Metatarsal
Click to expand...
Thank you.Calling the the fourth metatarsal "non-weight bearing" is completely laughable.

Beware.
Click to expand...
You seem to know what your talking about. What would be a reasonable estimate to fully heal that particular break in your opinion?edit to add: in your opinion...
Click to expand...
the 4th metatarsal is the middle bone in the 4th toe (next to pinkie toe). I have had a break there before (on my other foot) and although it does hurt like hell, with the right shoe you can still run. If the reports are true, he has a broken toe. 2-3 weeks.
Click to expand...
The metatarsals are not in the toe. They are the long bones that run along the top of your foot.
 
The Deathstar said:
broncofan13000 said:
shuke said:
shadow2k said:
Fourth Metatarsal
Click to expand...
Thank you.Calling the the fourth metatarsal "non-weight bearing" is completely laughable.

Beware.
Click to expand...
You seem to know what your talking about. What would be a reasonable estimate to fully heal that particular break in your opinion?edit to add: in your opinion...
Click to expand...
the 4th metatarsal is the middle bone in the 4th toe (next to pinkie toe). I have had a break there before (on my other foot) and although it does hurt like hell, with the right shoe you can still run. If the reports are true, he has a broken toe. 2-3 weeks.
Click to expand...
This is incorrect.The bones of the toes are called phalanges -- like the bones of the finger. The metatarsals are bones in the midfoot -- between the smaller foot/ankle bones and the toes.

Anatomy of the foot.

 
Jene Bramel said:
shuke said:
shadow2k said:
Fourth Metatarsal
Click to expand...
Thank you.Calling the the fourth metatarsal "non-weight bearing" is completely laughable.

Beware.
Click to expand...
True. They're all weight-bearing bones. The distinction, which probably isn't made very well, is that many of the bones in the foot (metatarsals include) can heal while weight bearing in many instances (walking cast, boot) and it's not uncommon for people with only slight fractures of a metatarsal to have little enough discomfort that they can walk with pain. That's not the case with the larger lower leg weight bearing bones.
Click to expand...
Heal with some weight bearing, yes. But running and cutting on a pro NFL level? :shrug: You're the doc. Tell us.

 
shuke said:
Jene Bramel said:
shuke said:
shadow2k said:
Fourth Metatarsal
Click to expand...
Thank you.Calling the the fourth metatarsal "non-weight bearing" is completely laughable.

Beware.
Click to expand...
True. They're all weight-bearing bones. The distinction, which probably isn't made very well, is that many of the bones in the foot (metatarsals include) can heal while weight bearing in many instances (walking cast, boot) and it's not uncommon for people with only slight fractures of a metatarsal to have little enough discomfort that they can walk with pain. That's not the case with the larger lower leg weight bearing bones.
Click to expand...
Heal with some weight bearing, yes. But running and cutting on a pro NFL level? :shrug: You're the doc. Tell us.
Click to expand...
I'm with you shuke. I was just clarifying the facts. Even stress fractures of the metatarsal, as you suggested, often take over a month to heal. Depending on where the fracture is, it can even take longer. I have to admit, I haven't been following the particular diagnosis much. If somebody has a more specific diagnosis I might be able to be more specific.

I'd be very surprised if Alexander plays, especially anywhere near his expected level, with a fractured metatarsal. He's certainly risking a worse injury and prolonging his recovery time significantly. IMO, professional athletes return to play sooner than they probably should in many instances (Roethlisberger taking contact to the face 6 weeks after complex facial surgery, Bruschi wrapping up a scaphoid fracture would make me a bit nervous) but I'm just a urgent care doc and fully understand that these guys will make every effort to get back on the field no matter the cost.

(ETA: Saw the article discussing the "crack" found by CT scan. Sounds like a hairline fracture. He may be able to bear weight without much pain after the inflammation improves (as he's suggesting), but as shuke suggests he'll almost certainly struggle after the first plant move at full speed if he goes hard before he's fully healed.)

 
Last edited by a moderator:
Jene Bramel said:
but I'm just a urgent care doc and fully understand that these guys will make every effort to get back on the field no matter the cost.
Click to expand...
Question for ya doc. I'm just a dumb x-ray/mri tech but if you had to chose the least weight bearing bone in your foot to run on, wouldn't it probably be the 4th metatarsal? I am envisioning myself running and most of the weight lands on the ball of my foot on the medial side (head of the 1st metatarsal) I realize everyone has a different running style as to which part of the foot gets the most amount of the stress. I seem to recall my foot doctor calling it pronation vs supination but it's late and I may be thinking of something else. Obviously no doctor would ever reccomend to run with a fracture of any bone in you foot, but if you had to chose?I agree with it being a huge risk to further injuring it, one mis-step or hit to force him to shift his weight or twist his foot and he'll wish he'd let it heal before pushing it.
 
shredhead said:
Jene Bramel said:
but I'm just a urgent care doc and fully understand that these guys will make every effort to get back on the field no matter the cost.
Click to expand...
Question for ya doc. I'm just a dumb x-ray/mri tech but if you had to chose the least weight bearing bone in your foot to run on, wouldn't it probably be the 4th metatarsal? I am envisioning myself running and most of the weight lands on the ball of my foot on the medial side (head of the 1st metatarsal) I realize everyone has a different running style as to which part of the foot gets the most amount of the stress. I seem to recall my foot doctor calling it pronation vs supination but it's late and I may be thinking of something else. Obviously no doctor would ever reccomend to run with a fracture of any bone in you foot, but if you had to chose?I agree with it being a huge risk to further injuring it, one mis-step or hit to force him to shift his weight or twist his foot and he'll wish he'd let it heal before pushing it.
Click to expand...
If you're anything like the crew I work with, I know better than this...I don't know if the fourth metatarsal is the "least weight bearing bone" in the foot -- that may be one of the smaller mid/hindfoot bones, I honestly don't know -- but I'd certainly choose it over the first metatarsal or the base of the fifth where the Lis Franc and Jones fractures come into play. If I had to choose a bone in the foot to run on while broken it'd probably be one of the middle toe phalanges. Those are pretty much activity as tolerated in my mind -- it ain't going to be fun but suck it up as much as you can and you probably won't do much additional damage.

Clearly it's not a huge deal with SA hopping around like a leprechaun in Holmgren's office begging to play but I think the quick move to shut SA down after the 2nd CT scan confirming the injury tells us what we need to know about the injury. I think the original report saying out "indefinitely" is a good term to use in this situation.

 
Last edited by a moderator:
Jene Bramel said:
shredhead said:
Jene Bramel said:
but I'm just a urgent care doc and fully understand that these guys will make every effort to get back on the field no matter the cost.
Click to expand...
Question for ya doc. I'm just a dumb x-ray/mri tech but if you had to chose the least weight bearing bone in your foot to run on, wouldn't it probably be the 4th metatarsal? I am envisioning myself running and most of the weight lands on the ball of my foot on the medial side (head of the 1st metatarsal) I realize everyone has a different running style as to which part of the foot gets the most amount of the stress. I seem to recall my foot doctor calling it pronation vs supination but it's late and I may be thinking of something else. Obviously no doctor would ever reccomend to run with a fracture of any bone in you foot, but if you had to chose?I agree with it being a huge risk to further injuring it, one mis-step or hit to force him to shift his weight or twist his foot and he'll wish he'd let it heal before pushing it.
Click to expand...
If you're anything like the crew I work with, I know better than this...I don't know if the fourth metatarsal is the "least weight bearing bone" in the foot -- that may be one of the smaller mid/hindfoot bones, I honestly don't know -- but I'd certainly choose it over the first metatarsal or the base of the fifth where the Lis Franc and Jones fractures come into play. If I had to choose a bone in the foot to run on while broken it'd probably be one of the middle toe phalanges. Those are pretty much activity as tolerated in my mind -- it ain't going to be fun but suck it up as much as you can and you probably won't do much additional damage.

Clearly it's not a huge deal with SA hopping around like a leprechaun in Holmgren's office begging to play but I think the quick move to shut SA down after the 2nd CT scan confirming the injury tells us what we need to know about the injury. I think the original report saying out "indefinitely" is a good term to use in this situation.
Click to expand...
Thanks! And yes, I was just making a joke about the dumb part. Makes sense about the middle phalanges, you could tape or even splint them for stability. Can't really do that for the metatarsal. Anyhoo, I plan on benching SA from my team and hope the 'Hawks do the same. Give him some rest and re-evaluate after the bye.
 
shredhead said:
Anyhoo, I plan on benching SA from my team and hope the 'Hawks do the same. Give him some rest and re-evaluate after the bye.
Click to expand...
I'm pretty certain I saw a quote from Alexander saying the second CT scan confirming the break has convinced him to sit until he's healed.
 
:cry:

:ptts:

My six player keeper list. Keep 6 with no draft pick subtractions. Sort of a quasi dynasty league.

Daunte Culpepper - well, I did keep him. League is 6 points per TD pass and QB's are overvalued. Sort of a no brainer over Mark Brunell though.

Shaun Alexander - looked into trading him in pre season but could find no suitable offer. I was extremely worried that after 380 or so regular season carries and then his team going all the way to the Super Bowl that the injury bug would finally catch up with the previously astounding unmarred SA. His value of course could never get any higher and he's 29 comong off a super human workload.

Deuce McCallister - I was extremely happy with myself when I traded a first round pick and Andre Johnson to the deuce owner who wasn't excited about keeping up with his rehab. We turned in our keepers before the draft and when I saw Houston :jawdrop: the world by signing Mario Williams I started taking medication.

Terrell Owens - I wake up today and find out my best WR is rumored to have attempted suicide. This is on top of a broken finger, you know which is on the hand, you know which is what receivers catch the ball with after all. :doh:

Santana Moss - The only player on my roster without major drama going on. #1 WR in our scoring system last year and had thought of trading him with that high water mark but got no suitable offers. In a 1 point per 10 yard, 6 point per TD league, he's averaging 6 points a contest. Tom Petty song stuck in my head.

Jeremy Shockey - Every year I keep this guy the next season something happens while when he ends up on my roster after not having been kept he goes off. (I think I've had him every year he's been in the league). He's already banged up and in a great PR move he's already called out his coach. :doh:

I'm sure nobody cares but I had to share my comical situation. After all, it's not every week a fantasy owner decides whether to start a running back who said God had healed his broken foot miraculously AND a WR who supposedly tried to commit suicide.

I think I'm going to try and aquire the Bengals Defense next.

 
Don't know if it is relevant or not, but quite a lot of footballers (soccer to you guys) here in England have had metatarsal injuries recently. Can't quite remember off the top pf my head which one David Beckham broke before 2002 World Cup or Wayne Rooney before this year's World Cup, but both were out for a minimum of six weeks.

Of course, they actually kick a ball which might take their period of recovery much longer...but I would think three-four weeks minimum for Alexander (and that's based on nothing but guesswork!!).

 
shredhead said:
Jene Bramel said:
but I'm just a urgent care doc and fully understand that these guys will make every effort to get back on the field no matter the cost.
Click to expand...
Question for ya doc. I'm just a dumb x-ray/mri tech but if you had to chose the least weight bearing bone in your foot to run on, wouldn't it probably be the 4th metatarsal? I am envisioning myself running and most of the weight lands on the ball of my foot on the medial side (head of the 1st metatarsal) I realize everyone has a different running style as to which part of the foot gets the most amount of the stress. I seem to recall my foot doctor calling it pronation vs supination but it's late and I may be thinking of something else. Obviously no doctor would ever reccomend to run with a fracture of any bone in you foot, but if you had to chose?I agree with it being a huge risk to further injuring it, one mis-step or hit to force him to shift his weight or twist his foot and he'll wish he'd let it heal before pushing it.
Click to expand...
When you are running, the impact load is borne through the calcaneus and talus up through the leg.Load transfer through the metatarsals occurs during the push-off phase of gait and load is transferred through all the metatarsals during push-off. While it is generally accepted that the first ray bears a higher proportion of load, there is some controversy regarding the load distribution through the rest of the metatarsals.The 4th and 5th tarsometatarsal joints are more mobile than the other three, so the loads through those are probably less. Remember though that we're talking about a normal gait cycle. Running backs do a lot of cutting and direction changes that put the foot and ankle through an array of positions and loading situations. So any time the foot is in supination/inversion, the load on the 4th metatarsal is going to be higher than normal.
 
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