Stressfrakturen am wachsenden Skelett

Stress fractures are a reaction of healthy bone to a repeated sub-maximal stress that would not normally cause a fracture if sustained only once. Stress fractures usually occur in recruits and sportsmen, rarely in adolescents with open growth plates. Plain radiographs are usually non contributory at the beginning of the course and the clinician should be alert about the possibility of a stress fracture if risk factors and symptoms as pain on exertion are present. A magnet resonance imaging study is usually helpful to make the diagnosis and an immediate treatment can be initiated, that is usually non-operative with reduced weight bearing.