cavalry fracture

A crushing plantar-flexion fracture of the tarso-metatarsal joint, which occurs when a violent force is applied to the heel along the axis of the foot when the toe is fixed. Calvalry fractures were common on battlefields when cavalrymen were thrown from a horse, and the foot remained pinned under the fallen horse; tarso-metatarsal fractures are now associated with RTAs/MVAs, step ladders, or misguided steps

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cavalry fracture

A crushing plantar-flexion fracture of the tarso-metatarsal joint, which occurs when a violent force is applied to the heel along the axis of the foot when the toe is fixed; tarso-metatarsal fractures are associated with MVAs, stepladders, or misguided steps. Cf Aviator's astragalus.

McGraw-Hill Concise Dictionary of Modern Medicine. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.