The Musculoskeletal System
Lesson 2: Diseases and Disorders of the Feet
Section IV: Arthritis of the Feet
2-24
2-24. STRESS FRACTURES
A fracture is the breaking of a bone chipping, cracking, splintering, or complete break. A stress fracture is not a complete break but repeated force on a bone, eventually resulting in mechanical failure. A march fracture, common in recruits, is a good example of a stress fracture. A march fracture is a spontaneous stress fracture of the second, third, or fourth metatarsal shaft. Severe strain is usually the cause. Soldiers who have been on long marches often experience march fractures.
a. Signs/Symptoms of Stress Fractures. Included are the following:
(1) Point tenderness.
(2) Redness and swelling (if the bone involved is superficial).
(3) Pain develops slowly, in many cases.
(4) X-ray is often inconclusive; however, comparison of x-rays taken at different times may confirm the diagnosis of a fracture.
b. Treatment of Stress Fractures. Treat as follows:
(1) Splint the foot with a rigid padded board splint, an air splint, a pillow splint, or an improvised splint of some other material. The purpose of the splint is to immobilize the ankle joint as well as the foot.
(2) Be sure to leave the toes exposed for periodic neurovascular checks.
(3) Elevate the foot slightly after splinting to keep swelling of the foot to a minimum.
(4) Transport the patient in a supine position (to keep the foot elevated) to a medical treatment facility.
