Evaluation of suspected stress fractures

Stress fractures can occur if normal bone is exposed to repeated abnormal s tress (fatigue fractures) or if normal stress is placed on bones with compr omised elastic resistance (insufficiency fractures). This article describes two patients without a history of excessive stressful activity or apparent metabolic bone disease who developed bilateral distal tibia[ stress fractu res. Different etiologies, clinical presentation, differential diagnosis, a nd diagnostic imaging modalities of stress fractures are discussed.