Double-stress fracture of the tibia in a ten-year-old child.

Abstract

A double-stress fracture of the tibia in a 10-year-old girl is described. Double-stress fracture of the tibia has previously been described in association with osteoarthritic varus deformity of the knee but not, to our knowledge, in a child. It is important to establish the diagnosis of stress fracture in childhood because the differential diagnosis, both clinically and on imaging, includes malignancy that must be excluded while avoiding unnecessary invasive investigations. The site of the lesions, their appearance on magnetic resonance imaging, the absence of any soft-tissue involvement, and the clinical history made the diagnosis possible. The characteristics of stress fracture shown on magnetic resonance imaging are described.