Stress fracture treatment?

• A. Ice therapy
• B. Surgical fixation
• C. Oral antibiotics
• D. Cast immobilization

Answer: (D)

Stress fractures occur from repetitive loading that creates microdamage in bone. Healing happens when the bone is unloaded and stabilized so remodeling can occur. The best way to achieve that stabilization is immobilization, typically with a cast or boot, along with activity modification until pain resolves and healing progresses on imaging. This approach lets the bone rest from repetitive stress and repair over time. Ice therapy can help with acute pain, but it doesn’t promote healing of a fracture itself. Surgical fixation is not usually needed unless the fracture is unstable, displaced, or fails to heal with conservative management. Oral antibiotics have no role in treating a stress fracture unless there is an infection, which is not part of the fracture itself.