Stress fracture of the fourth metatarsal in a relapsed clubfoot of a 5.5-year-old child

Abstract

Stress fractures are uncommon in skeletally immature patients and usually affect adolescents involved in competitive sports, whereas they are very rare in young children. Involvement of the fourth metatarsal is very infrequent and has been associated with metatarsus adductus deformities. The authors describe a stress fracture of the proximal fourth metatarsal occurred in a 5.5-year-old child with a relapsed clubfoot. Operative correction of the deformity and cast immobilization provided consolidation of the fracture. Stress fractures of lateral metatarsals may represent a possible source of pain in recurrent clubfeet, even in young children. In these cases, early correction of the deformity is required.