Mh. Sy et al., STRESS-FRACTURE OF THE TIBIA - A COMPLICA TION OF KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS, Revue de chirurgie orthopedique et reparatrice de l'appareil moteur, 81(5), 1995, pp. 445-448
Purpose of study Transverse stress fractures of the proximal tibia are
associated with osteoarthritis of the knee. This uncommon complicatio
n is presented in this case report as a non-union form along with a li
terature review. Case report A fifty nine year old black African woman
who had a thirteen-year history of osteoarthritis in both knees, was
seen for increasing pain in the proximal part of the left leg without
demonstrative traumatism. This homemaker measured 155 cm for 85 kgs. C
linical and radiological examination revealed a non-united stress frac
ture of the proximal part of the tibia and bilateral osteoarthritis of
the knee with varus deformity (40 degrees on the left). A compression
plate with bone grafting was used for treatment of the tibial non-uni
on.Discussion Eleven other cases have been published on the rhumatolog
ical and orthopaedical literature. All the twelve patients were female
, elderly, overweight, had marked varus deformities and a long history
of osteoarthritis of the knee. A non-united stress fracture was a com
plication of osteoarthritis in four cases and treated with a compressi
on plate. Conclusion Stress fractures of the proximal tibia are an unu
sual mechanical and an uncommun complication of osteoarthritis of the
knee. Biomechanic is perhaps one of the possible explication of these
tibial stress fractures.