Radiology of athletic injuries: football.

During a 17-year period, 33 injuries produced radiographic abnormalities in 26 members of a professional football team. Sites of injury were correlated with playing position and protective equipment worn at the time of injury. Fractures of multiple transverse processes of the lumbar spine are reported in offensive halfbacks and offensive ends. Two linebackers and one center sustained fractures of the mid-forearm. Several related reports of the morbidity and mortality of football injuries are also discussed.