[Fatigue fractures of the foot (author's transl)].

Fatigue fractures of the foot are the commonest fatigue fractures, still called walking fractures or "stress fractures". Formerly, they were metatarsal in more than 80% of cases: over the last few years, the calcaneal localizations mainly predominate (more than 70%). The fatigue fractures formerly described almost always in soldiers after a long march, are in fact encountered at all ages, including children, and in both sexes. The diagnosis in usually easy, provided that one thinks of it. It depends on the history, on clinical examination with pain on palpation of the bone, on a bone scan which shows early hyperfixation, on radiological examination, in which signs appear later than on clinical examination, and the bone scan, thus X rays often have to be repeated. The treatment is simple. Relief of weight bearing is usually sufficient. Plaster is usually neither necessary nor useful. Prophylaxis consists of avoiding physical activity, especially prolonged walking without prior gradual training.