Ben Simmons’ Injury Update: Jones Fracture, Not Dancer’s Fracture, Successful Operation
By Bret Stuter
Avulsion or Dancer’s Fracture
During training and performing, athletes place a great deal of stress on their feet, but perhaps none more-so than basketball players. As such, there are any number of ways for foot injuries to occur, and each specific injury dictates the type of treatment required to heal that injury and return the athlete to top performance.
The first type of injury is the Avulsion, or Dancer’s, Fracture.
Typically, the fracture results from a twisting injury to the ankle and foot. This torque causes undue force on the tendons and ligaments, and acts to (pulling off) fracture at the base of the 5th metatarsal – the bone that the little toe attaches to. If reports are correct, Ben Simmons “rolled his ankle” would most likely fall into this category.
A Dancer’s fracture causes localized pain, swelling, and difficulty walking. In most instances, this type of fracture can be treated non-operatively, with immobilization in a walking boot combined with limited weight-bearing.
It typically takes about 6 weeks for adequate bone healing to occur, before patients can start to significantly increase their activity level. It often takes 12 or more weeks for a full recovery to occur. However, in athletes, this full recovery can be accelerated with close monitoring under a physicians care. If the injury warrants, surgery to insert a screw ensures bones stay in alignment.