March fracture of the articular surface of the tibia and its relation to osteoarthropathy

The availability of x-ray examination to the large number of individuals in the Armed Services has brought to light many minimal injuries which tend to be ignored or overlooked in a comparable civilian population, while the rigors of training have increased the incidence of such injuries. There have been many reports on march fractures of the metatarsals observed during training periods and following marches. To the metatarsal fracture have been added march fracture of the femoral neck (1), march fracture of the femur (2), of the tibia (3), of the fibula (4), and even march fracture of the pelvis (5). These fractures have been called, also, insufficiency fractures and fatigue fractures. They are not new. The march fracture of the metatarsal has long been known. It was noted among recruits in the French army, where it was called pes marches. It was frequent, also, among the German troops, especially after practising the “goose-step” of the old Imperial Army, being known as Fussgeschwulst. Insufficiency fra...