Patellar stress fracture

Case contributed by Yuan Ling , 13 Jul 2019
Diagnosis certain
Changed by Yuan Ling, 13 Jul 2019

Updates to Case Attributes

Status changed from draft to published (public).
Published At was set to .
Body was changed:

Patellar stress fracture is a rare condition. It has been described in two groups - young athletes, and patients patients with cerebral palsy, and following patellar resurfacing surgery. Onset

In the athletic group, onset of pain is gradual and due to chronic overload. This is important to diagnose and treat (primarily through load management), as these will heal with appropriate rest, but could progress to frank fracture if unrecognised.

The radiographic appearance of stress fracture is marked by sclerotic margins, which reflect attempted reparation and osteoblastic activity. Conversely, acute traumatic patellar fractures are marked by lucent fracture margins. It is important to distinguish these entities from bipartite patella.

This case is unusual in that the fracture line is in the coronal plane. Patellar stress fractures are usually transverse, and occasionally longitudinal.

  • -<p>Patellar stress fracture is a rare condition described in two groups - young athletes, and patients with cerebral palsy. Onset of pain is gradual and due to chronic overload. This is important to diagnose and treat (primarily through load management), as these will heal with appropriate rest, but could progress to frank fracture if unrecognised.</p>
  • +<p>Patellar stress fracture is a rare condition. It has been described in young athletes, patients with cerebral palsy, and following patellar resurfacing surgery.</p><p>In the athletic group, onset of pain is gradual and due to chronic overload. This is important to diagnose and treat (primarily through load management), as these will heal with appropriate rest, but could progress to frank fracture if unrecognised.</p><p>The radiographic appearance of stress fracture is marked by sclerotic margins, which reflect attempted reparation and osteoblastic activity. Conversely, acute traumatic patellar fractures are marked by lucent fracture margins. It is important to distinguish these entities from bipartite patella.</p><p>This case is unusual in that the fracture line is in the coronal plane. Patellar stress fractures are usually transverse, and occasionally longitudinal.</p><div> </div>

References changed:

  • 1 1. Transverse Stress Fracture of the Proximal Patella: A Case Report. (2016) Medicine. 95 (6): e2649. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000002649">doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000002649</a> - <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26871789">Pubmed</a> <span class="ref_v4"></span>
  • 1 1. Transverse Stress Fracture of the Proximal Patella: A Case Report. (2016) Medicine. 95 (6): e2649. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000002649">doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000002649</a> - <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26871789">Pubmed</a> <span class="ref_v4"></span>
  • 2. Drabicki RR, Greer WJ, DeMeo PJ. Stress fractures around the knee. (2006) Clinics in sports medicine. 25 (1): 105-15, ix. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.csm.2005.08.002">doi:10.1016/j.csm.2005.08.002</a> - <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16324977">Pubmed</a> <span class="ref_v4"></span>
  • 2. Transverse Stress Fracture of the Proximal Patella: A Case Report. (2016) Medicine. 95 (6): e2649. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000002649">doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000002649</a> - <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26871789">Pubmed</a> <span class="ref_v4"></span>
  • 1. Drabicki RR, Greer WJ, DeMeo PJ. Stress fractures around the knee. (2006) Clinics in sports medicine. 25 (1): 105-15, ix. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.csm.2005.08.002">doi:10.1016/j.csm.2005.08.002</a> - <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16324977">Pubmed</a> <span class="ref_v4"></span>

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