Sternal stress fracture presenting as acute chest pain

Chiew-Jen Ong; Talal Mourad; Parker Weiss; Ryan Martin; Grace Palaparty; Emad Allam

doi:10.1016/j.radcr.2023.09.029

Sternal stress fracture presenting as acute chest pain

Radiol Case Rep. 2023 Oct 7;18(12):4435-4438. doi: 10.1016/j.radcr.2023.09.029. eCollection 2023 Dec.

Authors

Chiew-Jen Ong¹, Talal Mourad², Parker Weiss³, Ryan Martin¹, Grace Palaparty¹, Emad Allam¹

Affiliations

¹ Loyola University Chicago and Loyola University Medical Center, Department of Radiology, 2160 S 1st Ave, Maywood, IL, 60153, USA.
² University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria, Peoria, IL, 61605, USA.
³ Midwestern University Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine, Downers Grove, IL, 60515, USA.

Abstract

Sternal fractures are rare and are typically caused by major trauma such as motor vehicle collisions. However, sternal insufficiency fractures can occur with minimal to no trauma in patients with exaggerated thoracic kyphosis from multiple thoracic compression fractures, especially in the setting of osteoporosis. We describe a case of a sternal insufficiency fracture that presented as chest pain resembling a myocardial infarction. As sternal insufficiency fractures may vary in clinical presentation, this case demonstrates that radiologists should carefully evaluate the sternum, especially when risk factors are present. Furthermore, awareness and identification of these fractures can prevent unnecessary cardiac workups.

Keywords: Chest pain; Compression fracture; Insufficiency fracture; Sternal fracture; Stress fracture; Thoracic kyphosis.

Publication types

Case Reports