Stress fractures of the foot and ankle in athletes

Stress fractures of the foot and ankle can be a source of significant disability and rapid deconditioning of the high-performance athlete, resulting in lost time in competitive play and training. Additionally, complications such as nonunions or delayed unions prolong the time for healing and can be a career-altering event. Certain anatomical regions in the foot and ankle are prone to fracture, delayed union and nonunion, along with re-fracture. Due to the high-demand of athletic and active patients, surgery is often recommended for specific injuries. The most well-known and notorious injuries involved are “Jones” fractures, proximal fifth metatarsal stress fractures, Navicular stress fractures; less common but equally debilating are medial malleolar stress fractures.