Extensor Digitorum Brevis Hematoma

Ms Lee is a 40 year old lady who was brought to my clinic in a wheelchair after she slipped a step on the stairs last Saturday afternoon. There was an immediate bluish swelling (the size of a Mc Donald's chicken McNugget) on the side of her midfoot. It didn't look good as she looked like she had fractured her 5th metatarsal as she could not place her foot on her ground*.

I did a simple examination and was surprised that the 5th metatarsal bone was non-tender. The swelling seemed to come from the Extensor Digitorum Brevis (Peroneus Tertius, if present). Her plain X-rays did not show any fracture.





I advised her to use RICE treatment and gave her a Tubigrip sleeve to compress the site. She was also given analgesics and ARNICA Comp gel to reduce the swelling and inflammation. Her review will be in a week's time.

*AAFP article on Fractures of the Proximal Fifth Metatarsal