Citation

Benazzo F, Zanon G, Todesca A, Moreno J, Fischetto G. J. Sports Traumatol. Rel. Res. 1999; 21(3): 178-186.

Affiliation

Benazzo, F., 27100 Pavia, Italy

Copyright

(Copyright © 1999, Kurtis Publications)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This paper assesses the incidence of foot stress fractures in Italy's five hundred best athletes in the years 199697. Scintigraphy plus CT was used in one group of 22 athletes, and MRI alone in a second group of 19 athletes to look for a reliable diagnostic protocol by comparing the outcomes of these examinations. A total of 12 tarsal navicular stress fractures, 6 metatarsal fractures and 1 cuboid fracture were observed among these 41 subjects. Seventeen stress fractures were treated conservatively (rest, orthoses, magnetotherapy) (2), whereas two naviculars were operated due to persistent pain. The interval between symptom onset and diagnosis was reduced to about 45 days, since it was noted that MRI provided earlier information on the type of bone alteration in the pain site than scintigraphy and CT, and also provided useful follow-up information.