Fibula Stress Fractures: A Systematic Review.

Foot Ankle Spec

Prisma Health Orthopedics-Lexington, Lexington, South Carolina.

Published: July 2023

Background: Fibula stress fractures are moderately common injuries among athletes and military recruits. Most of the available data for treatment come from case reports with a limited number of large studies. This systematic review aims to evaluate and present the current literature on fibula stress fractures to help set evidence-based goals and establish realistic expectations for return to activity and sport in injured patients.

Methods: Systematic literature search using 3 databases. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) protocol and the Cochrane Handbook guidelines were followed. The terms "fibula stress fracture" or "fibular stress fracture" were searched. Date range for inclusion was 2010-2022. Pediatric, non-English, lack of full text available, and studies lacking differentiating fibula stress fracture versus other types of fractures in their data were excluded.

Results: A total of 3 studies with 10 987 subjects were included. Among 521 stress fractures in all 3 studies, there were 45 (8.6% of all fractures) cases involving the fibula. All fibular stress fractures healed successfully with nonoperative measures and non-weight-bearing precautions, on average, by 7 weeks and patients resumed activity, on average, by 9 weeks. Among the 3 studies, there were no reported cases of nonunion or delayed union.

Conclusion: This review found that fibula stress fractures have a relatively moderate incidence among stress fracture injuries with a frequency up to 8.6%. Despite this high number, there is sufficient healing in fibula stress fractures when managed nonoperatively with activity modification in a weight-bearing foot to allow for resumption of baseline activities, on average, by 9 weeks. This review can be used to help set evidence-based goals and establish realistic expectations for return to activity and sport in patients who suffer from fibula stress fractures.

Levels Of Evidence: Level II.

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Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/19386400231184124DOI Listing

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