[Dr. D]

"Realign by hand" is called a closed reduction and generally involves numbing the foot and then placing the toes in a traction device to attempt to realign the fracture. Most offices don't have traction devices, so most closed reduction attempts are done in the emergency room, or prior to surgery. Once the patient is under anesthesia, this allows for all the muscle groups to fully relax and the best chance at closed reduction. Closed reduction can be attempted by hand and if adequate realignment is achieved, a cast can be placed or sometimes a pin used to stabilize the fracture site. Because of the oblique nature of your fracture, there is a greater chance of it displacing again. If the fracture was transverse (the fracture line perpendicular to the metatarsal bone) then it would be stable after closed reduction.

After getting the second opinion, use all the information you have obtained to make your decision regarding the surgery. It's always handy to get extra information on forums, but you shouldn't make your decision based on it.