OBJECTIVETo discuss the imaging findings of stress fracture, in order to improve the ability of early diagnosis and early treatment of this disease.

METHODSThe DR, CT and MRI imaging data of 336 cases of stress fracture from January 2010 to January 2016 were analyzed retrospectively. Early diagnosis ratio in stress fractures by three methods were analyzed using²-test.

RESULTSEarly diagnosis ratio of three methods as follow: DR was 70.83%(238/332), CT was 55.93%(66/118), and MRI was 73.61%(53/72). There was statistical significance among three methods (²=10.15,=0.006), the early diagnosis ratio of DR was higher than CT (²=8.765,=0.003)and there was no statistical significance between DR and MRI (²=0.224,=0.636).

CONCLUSIONSDR and MRI have better diagnosis of stress fractures while CT is not helpful in the early diagnosis. DR examination is preferred method due to its economical and convenient. MR is the important complement means, which can improve the early diagnosis ratio and provide imaging diagnosis basis for the clinical, so that the disease get early intervention and treatment.