Postpartum sacral stress fracture: a case report

BACKGROUND Stress fractures are classified as insufficiency and fatigue fractures. Insufficiency fractures occur when normal stresses are placed on bone with decreased mineralization and elastic resistance; whereas fatigue fractures occur when abnormal forces are applied to normal bone. CASE PRESENTATION We report a case of postpartum bilateral sacral fracture in the absence of documented osteoporosis in a 30 year old Lebanese female, thus satisfying the classification of fatigue fractures. Clinical presentation was mainly low back pain, pelvic pain, and abnormal gait. CONCLUSIONS This case stresses the importance of including sacral fractures in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with similar symptoms during pregnancy or the postpartum period.