Pediatric stress fractures
A stress fracture in children is a common injury that causes a tiny crack in a bone. It is typically the result of repetitive pressure.
What are pediatric stress fractures?
A stress fracture is a tiny crack in a bone. A stress fracture can happen in any bone, but usually occur in bones in the feet, legs, arms or spine. It is a common injury in active children.
A stress fracture can start out small, but become a larger problem if continued pressure is put on the bone.
What are the signs and symptoms of pediatric stress fractures?
A stress fracture may have little to no symptoms when it first begins.
Some symptoms of a stress fracture may include:
A bone that is painful to touch or press
Pain in the bone during activity
Pain in the bone after activity
Pain that gets worse over time
Swelling
What are the causes of pediatric stress fractures?
Some stress fractures occur because of repetitive pressure that is put on a bone during sports and activities, such as running or jumping. Other times, a stress fracture happens because a person has fragile bones or nutritional deficiencies that make the bones weaker.