Differential Diagnosis of Complicated Bone Stress Injury in a Female Collegiate Swimmer

J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2018 Oct;48(10):823. doi: 10.2519/jospt.2018.7731.

Abstract

An 18-year-old woman presented to a direct-access military physical therapy clinic after a fall directly onto the knee, with subsequent medial knee pain. The history and examination of the patient led the physical therapist to order radiographs, which revealed a pre-existing metaphyseal fibrous defect. On the same day, an orthopaedic consultation recommended magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography, which showed a progression from a benign cortical defect to disruption of the posterior femur and surrounding bone marrow edema consistent with bone stress injury. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2018;48(10):823. doi:10.2519/jospt.2018.7731.

Keywords: computed tomography; knee; magnetic resonance imaging; radiography.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Bone Marrow Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Cortical Bone / diagnostic imaging
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Edema / diagnostic imaging
  • Female
  • Femur / diagnostic imaging*
  • Femur / injuries*
  • Humans
  • Knee Injuries / diagnostic imaging*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Radiography
  • Swimming / injuries*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed