How long to remodel a fifth metatarsal (bad break)

[yoshimura]

Hi all, I just saw my doctor a few weeks ago for the last (for a while, maybe) follow up to my treatment on a right 5th metatarsal break. It was a "really crappy break" requiring a couple hours of surgery and much hardware, including bailing wire to gather what was described as "mush" to the bracket and get it to take screws (5). This happened last August and I was through formal rehab in December.
These are my shots of the current x-rays. They look just like the x-rays from two months ago, and from those of December. The bone isn't healing as expected. I have been supplementing calcium with D at twelve-hour intervals since January. I'm 52 and a well-controlled (pills) Diabetic (A1C currently at 5.7). The opinion of the doc is that I live with it as long as I can as, depending on what he does next, there is a chance I could lose the toe. The swelling is down completely such that the fixation is apparent to the touch. It hurts off and on and I am pretty careful with the foot as the bracket is the main support (as it shouldn't be). It hasn't moved and, other than the toe being set slightly rearward, the foot functions pretty well. I don't jump or run on it and wear stiff NB shoes with Powerstep Pinnacle inserts, as directed. Any thoughts as to how long this can go on? I get the impression that this is now an "open-ended" proposition.
Thanks for any and all opinions.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/HarryPorsche/Misc/footx-ray5-20-13_3.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/HarryPorsche/Misc/footx-ray5-20-13_1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/HarryPorsche/Misc/footx-ray5-20-13_2.jpg

[yoshimura]

Thank you, Doctor, yes, my Doctor and I have had several discussions. "Managing" is exactly what's going on. Because there is no infection or constant inflammation at this time, it may be that I simply take a very long time to get through the stages to modeling.  I'm trying to get a handle on  how long that may be. August will be a year since the break. Nobody seems to know how long it might take to get some modeling. The bone(at this point) does not appear to be dead. Can going from soft-callous to hard callous take two years? Three? I'd just like to see SOME change toward the hard-callous(let alone full-on modeling). What did you think, looking at the x-rays?

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi!
This is indeed a difficult situation to manage. Usually healing will take about 6-8 weeks. Then if there is no union, the first thing that needs to be ruled out is infection. If there is no infection, bone graft can be tried. Since you have diabetes, recurrent inflammation due to screws, wires etc with non union can increase the risk of infection. Please discuss this possibility with your doctor. Hope this helps. Take care!

The medical advice given should not be considered a substitute for medical care provided by a doctor who can examine you. The advice may not be completely correct for you as the doctor cannot examine you and does not know your complete medical history. Hence this reply to your post should only be considered as a guiding line and you must consult your doctor at the earliest for your medical problem.