Differential Diagnosis of Shin Pain | Medicalalgorithms.com

Description

Pain in the shin ("shun splint") is a common problem for athletes who run. The cause can be infered from history and clinical examination but may require imaging studies for confirmation. Diagnostic problems can arise if more than one condition occurs simultaneously.

Conditions to distinguish:

(1) bone injury, ranging from mild damage to tibial stress fracture

(2) compartment syndrome

(3) tenoperiostitis (fascial inflammation)

Feature	Bone Injury	Compartment Syndrome	Tenoperiostitis
descriptor	acute, sharp	feeling of tightness, aching, claudication	aching
duration	constant or increasing	variable	variable
tibial location	localized, usually lower third	anterolateral	medial tibial border
better	analgesics	rest	with exercise
worse	with impact, in the morning	during exercise	following exercise, in the morning
tenderness	bone	none or minimal	along muscle attachment
other findings	aching at night	variable muscle weakness or sensory changes

Diagnostic tests to consider:

(1) isotope bone scan

(2) MRI

(3) compartment pressure

To read more or access our algorithms and calculators, please log in or register.

Description

Specialty

ICD-10