Epiphyseal Fracture in Sports

Abstract

In brief In this evaluation of 203 acute epiphyseal fractures in the long bones of 183 patients aged 3 to 18, 79 fractures (39%) were related to the following ten sports activities: football, hockey, basketball, downhill skiing, baseball/softball, wrestling, soccer, gymnastics, tennis, and volleyball. An additional 21 fractures occurred in weight lifting, roller skating, ice skating, and skateboarding. Approximately 50% of the fractures in this urban population were sports- related. The symptoms of epiphyseal fractures are the same as symptoms of fractures or ligament injuries in general. Physicians should always consider the possibility of epiphyseal fracture in adolescent injuries.