K.G. Gauntt, D.P.M.
October
 2017
Foot Notes
(503) 648-1713
(503) 538-0466

What is a Jones Fracture??

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There are 26 bones in each of the human feet; 52 altogether.  Given those numbers, there are plenty of locations for a broken bone and with the active lifestyles we lead, fractures of the feet are very common.
One of the more frequent fractures (another term for a broken bone) is that of the 5th metatarsal.  The metatarsals are the long bones, just behind the toes that make up the middle of the foot, the arch.  The 5th metatarsal is the one behind your little toe.
Frequently, this bone is broken in a twisting injury, such as in an ankle sprain, usually resulting in a break right at the end of the bone.   Other times,  it is a higher velocity injury that results in the break usually further up the bone.  What it takes to heal the bone depends on the location of the break.  If it is near the end of the bone it may be from a pull of a muscle when the twisting occurs, so making sure that the muscle stops pulling on it is important.  If the break is across the bone, a bit further up, it is known as a “Jones” fracture.  Either one may require surgery to help it heal.     
A Jones fracture occurs in an area we call a “watershed” location; that means an area that has a normally reduced blood supply and that can be a problem.  Reduced blood supply frequently causes a delay in the healing of the bone.   Because of this (in most cases) in an active patient, surgical repair should be considered.   Stability of the bone achieved in surgery typically allows more rapid healing, a faster return to activity and a reduced risk of a re-fracture (which is actually not uncommon). 
Jones fractures have been a cause of some professional athlete retirements, as constant re-injury never allows the bone to become fully functional in its support of the foot and the body.
What to do?  As with any injury, proper evaluation and diagnosis is necessary.  X-ray and sometimes even a CT scan evaluation is warranted, particularly if surgery is anticipated and if there is a great deal of separation of the bone pieces, they must be put back in place as well as possible.
With or without surgery plan for a period of no weight on the foot for 4-6 weeks and in particularly difficult cases, 12-16 weeks may be required.  Bone grafting and the use of electrical bone growth stimulators may be needed as well.
 


Dr. Gauntt's "Worlds Best" Potato Salad
(This used to be "Oregon's Best" but the judges  (ok judge) changed his mind and has awarded it the "World's Best" title)
What you need:
6 medium potatoes (red are ok if you like)
2 eggs
1/2 cup (plus a little more) sugar
1t. cornstarch
Pinch of salt (you decide how big a pinch is, I have big fingers)
1/2 cup white vinegar (cider is ok if that is what you have)
Evaporated milk, 5 oz.
1t. yellow mustard
3/8 cup butter
1 cup mayo
6 more eggs, hard boiled then chopped (easier to chop after boiling)
1 small onion, chopped
1 cup celery, chopped (if you want, this can be left out if you don't like celery)
1t. salt, (no pinching here)


Can you tell Dr. Gauntt had a prolific potato garden this year:)

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Fun Foot Facts
  1. Did you know that the foot contains 26 bones, 33 joints, and more than 100 muscles, tendons & ligaments.
     
  2. The 52 bones in your feet make up one quarter of all the bones in your body. When they are out of alignment, so is the rest of your body.
     
  3. There are approximately 250,000 sweat glands in a pair of feet, and they excrete as much as half a pint of moisture each day.
     
  4. The soles of your feet contain more sweat glands and sensory nerve endings per square centimeter than any other part of the body.
     
  5. The American Podiatric Medical Association says buying shoes is best done during the afternoon. Your feet tend to swell a little during the day, and it’s best to buy shoes that fit then.
     
  6. Women are 4 times more likely to have foot problems than men are, mostly due to footwear.
     

Potato Salad, What you do:
Boil the potatoes, yes you can get this wrong.  Too hard, although cooked, are annoying to eat, too soft and the entire salad is mush, you will figure it out.  Cool potatoes before cutting or cut them before boiling, either works.  Then put in fridge to cool completely while you work on the sauce.
On low heat, in a small pan, add 2 raw eggs, 1/2 cup (plus a little) sugar, and stir until sugar and egg are well mixed.(watch the heat so you are not cooking the eggs).  Add in cornstarch, salt, vinegar, evaporated milk, and yellow mustard and continue to stir until well mixed.  Turn heat to medium and continue to stir for 10 minutes, then add butter and stir until  the butter melts.  Now put the sauce in the fridge to cool.
When ready to mix the salad, after all has cooled, mix 1 cup mayo, the 6 chopped hard boiled eggs, the chopped onion, celery and salt into the cooled sauce then pour over the potatoes and mix (toss), gently (don't make mush, this is why we cool the potaoes in the fridge).  Again chill the entire mixture until ready to serve.
Eat and enjoy.

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