Pediatric stress fractures

Stress fractures in children are uncommon. This report describes the findings of 8 cases in 6 children. One patient had 3 stress fractures: 2 consecutive midshaft stress fractures of the same tibia associated with one of the fibula. Signs and symptoms may be misdiagnosed as malignant tumors or osteomyelitis. Serial radiographs and computed tomography scans are the key to the diagnosis, although bone scan and magnetic resonance imaging can be helpful. Biopsy is unnecessary and might even be misleading.