
About this episode
If you get a metatarsal fracture and it does not heal, doctors call it a "non-union."
Sometimes, even if you have a non-union you can still run. Maybe without surgery.
The single most important consideration with a non-union is stability.
The more stable the bone is, the more likely the fracture will heal.
The more stable the bone is, the less likely it will cause pain.
The more stable the bone is, the sooner you can start running.
The more stable the bone is, the less likely you will need surgery.
One of the keys to deciding when it's actually healed enough has to do with that stability. When it comes to assessing it, everybody wants an imaging study.
What's the best imaging study to assess non-union stability when you have a fracture?
Well, that's what we're talking about today on the Doc On The Run Podcast.
Get every episode summarized
Each time Doc On The Run Podcast publishes, we email you a written briefing from the transcript — the topics, who appeared, and any specific claims, with the ad reads skipped.
Email me new episodesFree for 3 shows. No card needed.
Hosts & guests
No transcript yet
This episode has not been transcribed. Request it and it moves to the front of the queue.
More episodes
More from Doc On The Run Podcast

Understanding Plantar Plate Stress vs Strain vs Sprain in Healing Runners
Doc On The Run Podcast

How to Make Decisions When Your MRI and Doctors Disagree About Peroneal Tendon P...
Doc On The Run Podcast

When Is It Safe to Start Loading a Stress Fracture Without Making It Worse?
Doc On The Run Podcast

What is More Useful than X-Ray Grading of Stress Fractures for Runners?
Doc On The Run Podcast