Mri In Stress Fractures

Ruling out Fractures

Use of magnetic resonance imaging to diagnose fracture in

light of negative plain films

Case Report

• 48 year old white female with no history of trauma reports having 2-3 months history of discomfort in the right foot and ankle

• A presumptive diagnosis of common heel pain or Plantar fasciitis is made

Case Report

• Plain films show no pathology to foot or ankle

• Patient has continued pain after a period of soft casting of the site and Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory therapy

Case Report

• A 3-phase technetium™ bone scan is done to look for other pathology and is hot at the calcaneus of the right foot.

• A magnetic resonance imaging study is done and shows a through and through calcaneal fracture at the midbody aspect of the tuber

Imaging• Plain film read as

no pathology although a subtle area of sclerosis is noted at the superior calcaneus

3-phase technetium™ bone scan

• Scan is hot throughout the calcaneus

MR Images

• Clear line of fracture seen through the body of the os calcis

MR Images

MR Images

Conclusions

• The use of the MR scan in light of negative films allowed visualization of the fracture

• Continued symptomotology with negative films would indicate further studies

• As the 3-phase scan didn’t locate the fracture, the magnetic resonance imaging was actually more cost- effective