Foot & ankle international
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Intramedullary screws frequently are used for fixation of Jones fractures of the fifth metarsal. While the ability of intramedullary screw fixation in fifth metatarsals to resist bending and tensile forces is well known, the ability to withstand torsion has not been studied. This paper compares the torsional stiffness of Jones fractures treated with 6.5-mm short- threaded intramedullary screws to those treated with 5.0-mm cannulated short-threaded intramedullary screws. ⋯ Both 5.0-mm or 6.5-mm screws provide equal torsional rigidity, but 5.0-mm screws may need to be longer, which could potentially straighten the fifth metatarsal shaft in patients who have a curved fifth metatarsal.