Stress Fracture in the Metaphyseal Region of the Tibia: A Rare Case Report

A stress fracture occurs due to an overuse injury. Stress fracture of the tibia is most common in the proximal third or at the junction of the middle and distal thirds. We present here a rare case of a stress fracture in the metaphyseal region of the tibia. A 31-year-old male soldier presented with a painful limp for 2 months, and despite analgesic medication, he continued to have a painful limp along with mild local tenderness. His skiagram revealed no abnormality, but magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a definite fracture in the shaft of the tibia one inch above the ankle in the metaphyseal region. Repeated prolonged stress on normal bone leads to a fatigue fracture. Patients with local tenderness and a normal skiagram should always be kept under observation, and an MRI should be advised to rule out the possibility of a stress fracture.