Sural Nerve Entrapment by Avulsion Fracture of the Base of the Fifth Metatarsal Bone

Three cases of sural nerve entrapment by an avulsion fracture of the base of the fifth metatarsal bone are reported. The fracture was incurred while running, the foot twisting in a depression in the ground. The fracture included a fairly large piece of bone which avulsed and strutted the overlying sural nerve causing continued pain and dysesthesias for months following the injury. All patients promptly recovered completely following removal of the incriminating, ununited fragment and neurolysis of the sural nerve.