The comparative study of clinical outcomes among early functional treatment, immobilization treatment and ulnar plate fixation for displaced or comminution fifth metatarsal base fractures

The optimal treatment for displaced or comminution fifth metatarsal base fractures remain debated. Ninety displaced or comminution fifth metatarsal base fractures patients were randomly selected into three groups: the ulnar hook plate fixation group (n=30), the immobilization treatment group (n=18), and the early functional group (n=30). The assessed factors included the duration until union, time to resume daily activities, American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) scores, Foot and Ankle Disability Index (FADI) scores, visual analog scale (VAS) ratings and occurrence of complications. The VAS scores showed no significant differences observed among the three treatments. The mean AOFAS score and mean FADI after treatment in the plate group and exhibited significant better than that of the immobilization group and the early functional group at 1 moth, 3 months and 6 months (P˂0.05). After a duration of 12 months, all three treatments exhibited comparable outcomes and facilitated restoration of daily activities. In the plate group, one patient developed a wound infection, one patient experienced sural nerve injury or irritation, and three patients exhibited implant prominence. One patient encountered nonunion in the immobilization group.The union time and the time of return to daily activities and the early functional group exhibited significant shorter durations than that of the immobilization group and the plate group(P˂0.05). Overall, the early functional treatment is recommended for managing displaced or comminution fifth metatarsal base fractures.