Stress fractures in military recruits. A prospective study showing an unusually high incidence.
In a prospective study of 295 male Israeli military recruits a 31% incidence of stress fractures was found. Eighty per cent of the fractures were in the tibial or femoral shaft, while only 8% occurred in the tarsus and metatarsus. Sixty-nine per cent of the femoral stress fractures were asymptomatic, but only 8% of those in the tibia. Even asymptomatic stress fractures do, however, need to be treated. Possible explanations for the unusually high incidence of stress fractures in this study are discussed.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005264:Femoral Fractures / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel; D008297:Male; D008684:Metatarsus / Q000293:injuries; D008889:Military Personnel; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000150:complications*; D013639:Tarsal Bones / Q000293:injuries; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology