Femoral stress fractures in children.

Stress fractures reported in the medical literature almost exclusively affect young athletes, military recruits and patients with metabolic bone disease. The classification of stress-induced bone injury is somewhat confused and includes "fatigue" stress fractures which occur in previously normal bones and "insufficiency" stress fractures which occur in bones weakened by various causes. Femoral stress fractures in children are extremely rare, and we report 5 cases in young patients who sustained their injuries during the course of normal play activities. It is well-known that these lesions can simulate malignant lesions; however, we believe that careful review of the radiographs in the context of the clinical history can in many cases lead to the correct diagnosis being made and obviate the need for further intervention.