How can I distinguish an inflammation of the tendon of the metatarsus from a fatigue fracture? | Inflammation of tendons in the metatarsus

How can I distinguish an inflammation of the tendon of the metatarsus from a fatigue fracture?

Fatigue fractures are so-called stress fractures, which occur particularly in people who practice high-intensity sports and/or have a congenital malposition and thus incorrect loading of individual skeletal elements. The bones are worn out, so to speak, by intensive stress and then usually break spontaneously. Since the fragments are usually located relatively favorably to each other, surgery is usually not necessary and immobilization is on the treatment plan.

It is dangerous that a fatigue fracture with pain, redness and swelling of the affected area involves similar symptoms to tendonitis. In this case, one must pay attention to whether the symptoms are temporally related to sporting activity and how long they last. If it lasts longer than one week, imaging diagnostics should be performed to exclude one of the two clinical pictures.