Which is the most common type of fracture of the fifth metatarsal?

Which is the most common type of fracture of the fifth metatarsal?

• A. Avulsion fracture (about 50%)
• B. Jones fracture
• C. Stress fracture
• D. Base fracture

Answer: (A)

The main idea is recognizing which pattern of injury is most common at the fifth metatarsal. The usual ACUTE fracture you’ll see here is an avulsion fracture of the base (tuberosity) where the peroneus brevis tendon attaches. In an inversion or twisting injury, the tendon can yank on that tuberosity and pull off a fragment. This type accounts for roughly half of fifth metatarsal fractures, making it the most frequent presentation.

Understanding the alternatives helps: a Jones fracture is a fracture at the proximal diaphysis, farther up from the base, and while clinically important, it occurs less often than the base/tuberosity avulsion. Stress fractures come from repetitive loading and are less common than the acute avulsion injury. A base fracture is a broad term that can describe injuries near the base, but the hallmark and most common base-region injury is the avulsion fragment of the tuberosity.

So the avulsion fracture at the base of the fifth metatarsal is the most common type, explaining why it’s the best answer.