Tibial Stress Reaction in Runners

TLDR

Medial tibial pain in runners has traditionally been diagnosed as either shin splint syndrome or a stress fracture. When clinically warranted, we recommend magnetic resonance imaging over bone scan for grading tibial stress lesions in runners. Fourteen runners with 18 symptomatic legs were evaluated and, within 10 days, referred for radiographs, a technetium bone scan, and a magnetic resonance imaging scan. MRI detects a progression from periosteal edema to cortical fracture, correlates with bone scan grading, aligns with clinical severity, and offers higher accuracy, no radiation, and shorter imaging time compared to bone scans.

Abstract

Medial tibial pain in runners has traditionally been di agnosed as either a shin splint syndrome or as a stress fracture. Our work using magnetic resonance imaging suggests that a progression of injury can be identified, starting with periosteal edema, then progressive mar row involvement, and ultimately frank cortical stress fracture. Fourteen runners, with a total of 18 sympto matic legs, were evaluated and, within 10 days, referred for radiographs, a technetium bone scan, and a mag netic resonance imaging scan. In 14 of the 18 symp tomatic legs, magnetic resonance imaging findings cor related with an established technetium bone scan grading system and more precisely defined the ana tomic location and extent of injury. We identified clinical symptoms, such as pain with daily ambulation and physical examination findings, including localized tibial tenderness and pain with direct or indirect percussion, that correlated with more severe tibial stress injuries. When clinically warranted, we recommend magnetic resonance imaging over bone scan for grading of tibial stress lesions in runners. Magnetic resonance imaging is more accurate in correlating the degree of bone in volvement with clinical symptoms, allowing for more ac curate recommendations for rehabilitation and return to impact activity. Additional advantages of magnetic reso nance imaging include lack of exposure to ionizing ra diation and significantly less imaging time than three- phase bone scintigraphy.