Jones fracture: relearning an old injury.

No longer should the Jones fracture be confused with more proximal injuries at the base of the fifth metatarsal. Historically, the lack of differentiation of these two injuries has led to much confusion about their natural history and consequently about the best method of treatment. It is presently well understood that the more proximal injuries typically respond satisfactorily to short-term immobilization. Current studies have been able to focus on defining the varied nature of fractures in the proximal fifth metatarsal. We have learned to differentiate between acute and chronic (subacute or stress) fractures and especially to appreciate the ramifications of the injury in an active population. Although significant contributions to understanding and managing these injuries have occurred in recent years, much of what we have described in such detail was already printed in Jones' original article, which was perhaps presented in much simpler terms, but no less accurately.