Stress fractures of the lower extremities in children

Stress fractures of the lower extremities in children are not so common as they are in adult athletes. In this study, the retrospectively analysed data are presented of 23 children with 26 stress fractures of the lower extremities. The children were examined at the Department of Orthopaedics of the Zagreb Children's Hospital over a period between 2000 and 2005. After the clinical examination, patients' assessment was performed following a known algoritm. Standard radiographs were obtained from all children, scintigraphy was done in 16 children and CT studies in one child. Stress fractures of the tibia, metatarsal bone (2nd, 3rd and 5th), fibula and the femur were found in 12, 9, 3 and 2 cases, respectively. The patients were treated nonsurgically, using partial weight-bearing or immobilisation for 2 to 4 weeks. The radiographs showed successful consolidation of the bone in all cases. There were no complications.