Stress fracture of the medial tibial condyle.

Abstract

Although stress fractures of the tibial diaphysis are common among athletes, the proximal tibial metaphysis is an unusual location for such injuries. In addition, their proximity to the knee joint can obscure the diagnosis. We present a case of a stress fracture of the medial tibial condyle in a long-distance runner, aiming to increase awareness about this uncommon and interesting differential diagnostic problem. A change in running conditions preceded the fracture and should always raise suspicion of overuse injuries. MRI scan has proved very sensitive for diagnosing stress fractures and provided a definite diagnosis in our case.