Bilateral femoral stress fractures in a child due to in-line (roller) skating

We report a child who presented with a limp following 6 weeks of strenuous roller skating. Directed X-rays on admission were normal but a ^99mTc-methylene diphosphanate bone scan demonstrated increased uptake in the mid-thirds of the femurs compatible with grade IV stress fracture. Immediate abstention from roller skating for 5 weeks resulted in a complete cure. The 'new' side effect of this increasingly popular sport is discussed with regard to paediatric stress fractures and to other roller skating-associated injuries.