Stress fractures in metatarsal bones

Abstract

Stress fractures of metatarsals may occur in some bones but it is quite common in the metatarsals bones of the feet. Stress fracture can be produced in normal or anormal bones, which are subjected to ciclical repeated loads of low intensitiy. There are two kinds of stress fractures: fatigue fractures that are caused by anormal stress or torsion in bone with normal elastic strength, and insuficiency fractures, that are caused when normal stress affects bones with deficiency elastic strenght. The most common localization is the neck of the second and third metatarsal.

Generally these fractures have a specific clinic, which allow us to diagnose them. However if we are not able to diagnose them, we may use radiograph, CT, MRI and/or gammagraphy, in order to obtain an early diagnosis, as has been described in the above-mentioned clinical cases.