If you get a metatarsal fracture and it does not heal, doctors call it a "non-union." 

Sometimes, even if you have a non-union you can still run. Maybe without surgery.

The single most important consideration with a non-union is stability.

The more stable the bone is, the more likely the fracture will heal.

The more stable the bone is, the less likely it will cause pain.  

The more stable the bone is, the sooner you can start running. 

The more stable the bone is, the less likely you will need surgery.

One of the keys to deciding when it's actually healed enough has to do with that stability. When it comes to assessing it, everybody wants an imaging study.

What's the best imaging study to assess non-union stability when you have a fracture? 

Well, that's what we're talking about today on the Doc On The Run Podcast.