The cuboid is a square shaped bone on the outside of your foot that connects your 4th and 5th metatarsals (long bones of the feet) to the calcaneus (heel bone). Injury to this bone, while less common, can still occur and cause debilitating symptoms.
Fractures to this bone occur either through traumatic injury or as a stress response. When a person has a traumatic injury that ‘buckles’ the foot, exerting an excessive force through the cuboid, this can result in fracture. Cuboid fractures that are stress related most often occur in athletes when the inside portion of the bone fatigues, or loses integrity, resulting in a ‘crack’ or fracture.
Symptoms of a cuboid fracture:
- Inability to weight bear due to pain
- Pain that increases with weight bearing
- Local tenderness, bruising or inflammation at the area
- Aching pain at night
Diagnosing a cuboid fracture includes:
- Gaining a verbal history of the injury
- Physical examination
- X-ray to confirm diagnosis
Treatment of a cuboid stress fracture will vary depending on the individual person and severity of the injury, however often will include:
- Crutches
- Walking boot
- Surgery (severe cases)
If you experience any of these symptoms, please book an appointment with one of our experienced Podiatrists today.
You can call us on 8645 9800 or,
Reference: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins (2010) Clinically Orientated Anatomy: Bones of Foot (pg 522-524)
