[Fatigue fractures of the metatarsal bones]

The authors report 145 cases of fatigue fractures including 125 of the metartarsals. They compare this distribution that reported by others, in particular in German work. After study of the different types of clinical picture the authors emphasize the importance of repeated and high quality radiological examinations. They describe the four stages of radiological evolution. Each of the images taken out of its context is misleading. They may lead to the diagnosis being missed and thus should be well known.