The effect of an inclined landing surface on biomechanical variables during a jumping task
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Bilateral pedicle stress fractures in a female athlete: case report and review of the literature
by
Parvataneni HK, Nicholas SJ, McCance SE.
—
last modified
2009-10-09 15:16
Spine. 2004 Jan 15;29(2):E19-21.
STUDY DESIGN: Clinical case report of bilateral stress fractures of the pedicle
in a female athlete presenting with back pain. OBJECTIVES: To report this unusual
case and surgical treatment and to review the relevant literature. SUMMARY OF
BACKGROUND DATA: Low back pain is a frequent complaint in athletes, with the
majority of cases being related to muscular or soft tissue etiology.
Spondylolysis, or pars fracture, is the most common injury of the neural arch.
Stress fracture of the pedicle is a much less common occurrence. Bilateral
pedicle fractures in an otherwise healthy athlete has not been previously
reported in the orthopedic literature. METHODS: A 19-year-old female athlete
presented with low back pain limiting sports and daily activities. Radiographic
workup revealed bilateral stress fractures of the pedicles of the L5 vertebra.
Circumferential fusion of the L5-S1 segment was performed after failure of
conservative treatment. Anterior interbody structural allograft and a vertical
mesh cage were combined with instrumented posterolateral fusion using segmental
pedicle screws and autogenous iliac crest bone graft. RESULTS: The patient
achieved complete pain relief, solid fusion, and return to normal function.
CONCLUSIONS: In this uncommon case of bilateral stress fractures of the pedicle,
circumferential fusion assures full immobilization of the injured motion segment
and assures a high probability of successful healing.