An uncommon cause of foot pain: the cuboid insufficiency stress fracture

We report a case of bone insufficiency fracture of the cuboid in a 33-year-old female patient with many risk factors of bone insufficiency: long term steroid treatment for lupus erythematosus, renal failure, hemodialysis since 3 years and severe secondary hyperparathyroidism. Early diagnosis was established using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and confirmed 4 months later on radiography, showing typical line of sclerosis perpendicular to bone trabeculae. Literature review shows only few detailed cuboid stress fracture case reports: four cases in young athletes, one case complicating plantar fascia disruption and one case after plantar fasciotomy. Insufficiency fracture of the foot bones involves mainly the metatarsals, the calcaneus, the talus, whereas cuboid location seems exceedingly rare. Physiopathological characteristics of this uncommon fracture are mentioned.