title: Post-operative stress fractures complicating surgery for painful forefoot conditions.
abstract: A stress fracture is caused by repetitive or unusual loading of a bone leading to mechanical failure. Fatigue type stress fractures occur in normal bone exposed to abnormally high repetitive loads, whereas insufficiency type stress fractures occur in abnormal bone exposed to normal loads. We describe three cases of insufficiency stress fractures that have complicated surgery for painful forefoot conditions. The diagnosis and management of these cases are discussed. Stress fractures should be included in the differential diagnosis of any patient who continues or develops pain after surgery to the forefoot.
authors.affiliation: Department of Foot & Ankle Surgery, Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Trust, Great Maze Pond, Guys Hospital, London SE1 9RT, United Kingdom. drmaxedwards@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Max R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jack
authors.forename: Gareth G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Samrendu K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Singh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005545:Forefoot, Human / Q000601:surgery; D015775:Fractures, Stress / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008682:Metatarsal Bones / Q000293:injuries*; D008875:Middle Aged; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures; D011183:Postoperative Complications