Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Unusual supero-medial iliac fatigue stress fracture

  • Case Report
  • Published:
Skeletal Radiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Fatigue stress fractures are quite common in athletes, especially in women. They typically involve the lower extremities, but they have also been described in the pelvis and sacrum. Most of the time, they are radiographically occult at the beginning, and become visible only when the callus is detected. They are suspected owing to their clinical features, and investigated using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT). We present a case of unusual supero-medial iliac fatigue stress fracture in a 58-year-old amateur marathon runner woman presenting with a history of 1-month’s worsening pain in the right buttock. Diagnosis was challenging. The early radiograph was normal, and the stress fracture was suspected by clinical features and MRI. Although the fracture was evident on the MRI, the findings were subtle and overlooked. The fracture was later confirmed by CT and radiograph, showing the reparative process.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

References

  1. Kiuru MJ, Pihlajamaki HK, Ahovuo JA. Fatigue stress injuries of the pelvic bones and proximal femur: evaluation with MR imaging. Eur Radiol. 2003;13(3):605–11.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Niva MH, Mattila VM, Kiuru MJ, et al. Bone stress injuries are common in female military trainees: a preliminary study. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2009;467(11):2962–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Spitz DJ, Newberg AH. Imaging of stress fractures in the athlete. Radiol Clin North Am. 2002;40(2):313–31.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Wall J, Feller JF. Imaging of stress fractures in runners. Clin Sports Med. 2006;25(4):781–802.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Touhy J, Nattiv A. Iliac stress fracture in a male collegiate track athlete. Curr Sports Med Rep. 2008;7(5):252–4.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Daffner RH, Pavlov H. Stress fractures: current concepts. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 1992;159(2):245–52.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Campbell SE, Fajardo RS. Imaging of stress injuries of the pelvis. Semin Musculoskelet Radiol. 2008;12(1):62–71.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Hosey RG, Fernandez MM, Johnson DL. Evaluation and management of stress fractures of the pelvis and sacrum. Orthopedics. 2008;31(4):383–5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Van Mechelen W, Hlobil H, Kemper HC. Incidence, severity, etiology and prevention of sports injuries. A review of concepts. Sports Med. 1992;14:82–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Davies AM, Bradley SA. Iliac insufficiency fractures. Br J Radiol. 1991;64:305–9.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Cabarrus MC, Ambekar A, Lu Y, et al. MRI and CT of insufficiency fractures of the pelvis and the proximal femur. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2008;191:995–1001.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Milva Battaglia.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Battaglia, M., Guaraldi, F., Vannini, F. et al. Unusual supero-medial iliac fatigue stress fracture. Skeletal Radiol 41, 103–106 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-011-1244-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-011-1244-x

Keywords

Navigation