Bone stress injuries of the lower extremity: a review.

Bone stress injuries can cause long-lasting damage, especially in young athletes and military conscripts, if not diagnosed and treated properly. Diagnosis has been traditionally based on clinical, radiographic and scintigraphic examinations, but MRI has become increasingly important. High resolution MRI is particularly valuable for the grading of bone stress injuries. The clinician should be aware of the wide range of bone stress injuries and available diagnostic methods. Early diagnosis is the prerequisite for avoiding long-lasting complications. Most bone stress injuries heal with closed treatment, but surgery is necessary in some cases. They heal well if the diagnosis is not delayed and the treatment adequate.