Stress fractures of the pubic ramus. A report of twelve cases.
Twelve stress fractures of the pubic arch were seen in eleven patients who were joggers, long-distance runners, or marathoners. In two of the fractures there were complications of healing; that is, delayed union or refracture. With two exceptions, the lesions occurred in women between the ages of nineteen and forty-eight. In all of the patients the fracture was in the inferior pubic ramus near the symphysis pubis, and caused pain in the groin, buttock, or thigh. All fractures were non-displaced and easy to overlook on the initial radiographic examination; when a fracture of the pubic arch was clinically suspected but the radiographs were normal, a radionuclide bone scan was diagnostic. After identification of the fracture, running had to be curtailed until the symptoms disappeared in order for healing to occur.
D000328:Adult; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005598:Fractures, Spontaneous / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007590:Jogging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011630:Pubic Bone / Q000293:injuries*; D012420:Running