Introduction. Fifth metatarsal fractures are a common injury suffered by professional footballers. It is frequently reported in the media that such an injury will result in a 6-week absence from play. The purpose of this study was to assess frequency of media reporting of fifth metatarsal fractures, the time that is predicted by the media before the player will return to soccer and the actual time taken for the player to return to play. Methods. Internet search engines identified 40 professional footballers that suffered 49 fifth metatarsal fractures between 2001 and 2011. Information was collected from various media and team websites, match reports, photography and video evidence to provide data regarding the mechanism of injury, playing surface conditions, frequency of fractures per season, fracture treatment, estimated amount of time to be missed due to the injury and time taken to return to play. Results. 49 fractures were identified in the 40 players. 6 players suffered a recurrence of a previous fifth metatarsal fracture. 3 players sustained 5. th. metatarsal fractures in their contralateral foot. There was a trend of increased reporting of fifth metatarsal fractures over the course of the decade. 43% of fractures were sustained without contact with another player, 24% were suffered in a tackle. 77% of fractures were sustained in dry conditions. 90% of fractures were treated surgically. Mean return to play time was 14.6 weeks (range 5 to 34 weeks). The mean estimated absence in the media was 7.8 weeks (range 2 to 16 weeks), median 6 weeks. Conclusions. Fifth metatarsal fractures are being commonly reported in professional footballers with an increasing trend. Most are treated surgically. It appears that the commonly quoted period of 6 weeks before return to play is unrealistic. It should be expected that a player would be unavailable for 3 months

In foot and ankle surgery incorrect placement of implants, or inaccuracy in fracture reduction may remain undiscovered with the use of conventional C-arm fluoroscopy. These imperfections are often only recognized on postoperative computer tomography scans. The apparition of three dimensional (3D) mobile Imaging system has allowed to provide an intraoperative control of fracture reduction and implant placement. Three dimensional computer assisted surgery (CAS) has proven to improve accuracy in spine and pelvic surgery. We hypothesized that 3D-based CAS could improve accuracy in foot and ankle surgery. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the feasibility and utility of a multi-dimensional surgical imaging platform with intra-operative three dimensional imaging and/or CAS in a broad array of foot and ankle traumatic and orthopaedic surgery. Cohort study of patients where the 3D mobile imaging system was used for intraoperative 3D imaging or 3D-based CAS in foot and ankle surgery. The imaging system used was the O-arm Surgical Imaging System and the navigation system was the Medtronic's StealthStation. Surgical procedures were performed according to standard protocols. In case of fractures, image acquisition was performed after reduction of the fracture. In cases of 3D-based CAS, image acquisition was performed at the surgical step before implants placement. At the end of the operations, an intraoperative 3D scan was made. We used the O-arm Surgical Imaging system in 11 patients: intraoperative 3D scans were performed in 3 cases of percutaneus fixation of distal tibio-fibular syndesmotic disruptions; in 2 of the cases, revision of reduction and/or implant placement were needed after the intraoperative 3D scan. Three dimensional CAS was used in 10 cases: 2 open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) of the calcaneum, 1 subtalar fusion, 2 ankle arthrodesis, 1 retrograde drilling of an osteochondral lesion of the talus, 1 Charcot diabetic reconstruction foot and 1 intramedullary screw fixation of a fifth metatarsal fracture. The guidance was used essentially for screw placement, except in the retrograde drilling of an osteochondral lesion where the guidance was used to navigate the drill tool. Intraoperative 3D imaging showed a good accuracy in implant placement with no need to revision of implants. We report a preliminary case series with use of the O-arm Surgical Imaging System in the field of foot and ankle surgery. This system has been used either as intraoperative 3D imaging control or for 3D-based CAS. In our series, the 3D computer assisted navigation has been very useful in the placement of implants and has shown that guidance of implants is feasible in foot and ankle surgery. Intraoperative 3D imaging could confirm the accuracy of the system as no revisions were needed. Using the O-arm as intraoperative 3D imaging was also beneficial because it allowed todemonstrate intraoperative malreduction or malposition of implants (which were repositioned immediately). Intraoperative 3D imaging system showed very promising preliminary results in foot and ankle surgery. There is no doubt that intraoperative use of 3D imaging will become a standard of care. The exact indications need however to be defined with further studies