Juvenile Proximal Fifth Metatarsal X-ray Manifestations Of Epiphysis

Objective To investigate the morphological characteristics of juvenile fifth metatarsal proximal epiphysis and their frequency of occurrence, and in order to avoid misdiagnosing it as fracture or other bone lesions.Methods From October 2010 to 2015 December, 1421 juveniles(836 males, 585 females, ages ranges from 6 to 15) were enrolled in this study and all of them were took to the hospital for the X-ray examination of foot oblique projection. Analyze and summarized the occurrence rate, gender distribution and morphological features of the fifth metatarsal proximal epiphysis. Meanwhile, the differences between boys and girls were compared using chi-squared test.Result Among all of the subjects, there were 285(20.06%) cases whose fifth metatarsal proximal epiphysis were clearly observed(138 males, 147 females). The X-ray feature of the fifth metatarsal proximal epiphysis was varied shapes, including miliary, scales flake, ovoid and irregular form. The miliary was found in 41 cases including 19 male, 22 female and their average age was 7.9. The scales flake was found in 217 cases including 104 male, 113 female and their average age was 11.3. The ovoid was found in 10 cases including 6 male, 4 female and their average age was 12.1. The irregular was found in 17 cases including 9 male, 8 female and their average age was 12.8. The shape of the fifth metatarsal proximal epiphysis followed the rules of epiphysis growth and development and most of the epiphysis line is parallel with the diaphysis. There was no statistical significance in the occurrence rate of all types of the fifth metatarsal proximal epiphysis between boys and girls(P>0.05).Conclusion Teen fifth metatarsal proximal epiphysis development appears higher variation, showing a variety of forms, with a significant difference in the age distribution, and is independent of gender.