Pelvic Region Avulsion Fractures in Adolescent Athletes: A Series of 242 Cases.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this descriptive study was to evaluate pelvic region avulsion fractures in adolescents, including age of injury, location of injury, activity and mechanism at time of injury, treatments used, duration of treatment, and outcomes.

DESIGN

This was a retrospective chart review of patients who presented with pelvic region avulsion fracture over a 19-year period.

SETTING

Private practice, primary care sports medicine clinic.

PATIENTS

All patients younger than 20 years of age diagnosed with an acute pelvic region avulsion fracture.

INTERVENTIONS

There was no set intervention protocol. A variety of interventions and combination of interventions were used and determined by the treating physician on a case-by-case basis.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Clearance for return toward sport activities.

RESULTS

Of the 242 cases, 162 were male. Soccer was the most common sport at the time of injury, and running/sprinting was the most common mechanism. Males were generally older at presentation and were more likely than females to have anterior inferior iliac spine injuries, whereas females were more likely to have iliac crest avulsions. Conservative treatment was effective in all cases. Males were treated for a shorter duration than females, but this difference was not statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS

Pelvic avulsion fractures are a rare injury in adolescent athletes. Males are twice as likely to experience these injuries and are older at presentation compared to females. Conservative management leads to successful outcomes in most cases.