Course of fatigue fractures
In general, fatigue fractures take a very good course, as the fractures usually heal well under appropriate treatment and load reduction. However, especially if the diagnosis is made late, it can take up to six months before the original load capacity of the affected body region is restored. Incomplete healing is extremely rare.
Immobilization (especially if it is done with a plaster cast) requires the administration of an injection of heparin once a day. This is an anticoagulant drug which is intended to prevent the complication of thrombosis from occurring during therapy. This means that a vein is closed by a blood clot, which can be very painful.
A fatigue fracture that is treated purely conservatively (not surgically) will in most cases be cured by the secondary route. This means that inferior bone tissue, the so-called callus, is formed over several steps. Over time, this bone-like substance is replaced by stable bone tissue through a remodelling process.
Healing via the secondary route can take several weeks. In contrast, a surgically treated fatigue fracture with well adapted fracture ends is usually healed via the primary route. This means that inferior bone tissue is not formed at any time.
Instead, the organism immediately connects the fracture ends with stable bone substance. Thus, the healing time is usually significantly shorter after surgery without complications. In addition, the treatment results after completed healing are in most cases much better. With the appropriate prophylaxis, however, these side effects can be prevented relatively well.
Prophylaxis
To prevent fatigue fracture, it is advisable not to overdo it with any kind of load. Especially for (competitive) athletes this means that a training program must be well worked out. This always includes warming up before training, taking breaks and special equipment, such as running shoes that are able to absorb shocks somewhat.
It is best to consult a sports physician, who will supervise the training and is always available to answer questions and solve problems. In principle, of course, always, but especially with such athletes it is important to pay attention to a balanced diet that provides the body with sufficient nutrients (vitamins, calcium), which are also necessary for healthy bone growth. In addition, it is of course important to recognize and adequately treat certain underlying diseases such as osteoporosis, as this can significantly increase the risk of fatigue fracture. In addition, especially as an athlete, one should always have the diagnosis “fatigue fracture” in mind and in case of pain that cannot be traced back to any acute event and that persists over a longer period of time, one should remember this and then definitely consult a doctor.
