Abstract

To investigate the role of the leg length asymmetry in the pathogenesis of stress fractures, the leg lengths of altogether 371 Finnish Army conscripts were measured by a standing x-ray method developed by the author. In 130 cases of stress fracture the unilateral lesions of tibia, metatarsals and femur occurred in 73 of the cases in the longer leg and only in 16 of the cases in the shorter leg. In 11 of the cases the legs were of equal length. The stress fractures of fibula, however, were in 60 of the cases located in the shorter leg. In a group of 102 parachutists 25developed a stress fracture during an extremely heavy training period. A positive correlation between the quantity of leg length asymmetry and the incidence of the stress fractures was observed. It was concluded that leg length asymmetry may have a predisposing role in the pathogenesis and the location of the stress fractures of lower limbs. Verf.-Referat