title: Stress fractures around the knee.
abstract: Stress fractures of the lower extremities are common, especially in the younger athletic population. The current literature consists mainly a variety of case reports but is devoid of any sizeable series of knee stress fracture investigations. Diagnosing a stress fracture around the knee can be a challenge. The proximity of the stress fracture to the knee joint may lead the clinician to investigate intra-articular or other periarticular pathology. The differential diagnosis can be large, including bursitis, tendonitis, mechanical causes, insufficiency fracture, and tumor. A high index of suspicion is necessary to confirm the underlying diagnosis. A patient's medical history combined with a physical examination and imaging modalities will aid the physician in arriving at the diagnosis of stress fracture.
authors.affiliation: Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA 15212, USA.
authors.forename: Raymond R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Drabicki
authors.forename: William J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Greer
authors.forename: Patrick J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: DeMeo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005264:Femoral Fractures / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D005360:Fibula / Q000293:injuries; D015775:Fractures, Stress / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D010329:Patella / Q000293:injuries; D012307:Risk Factors; D013178:Sports Medicine / Q000379:methods; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy