Acute avulsion fractures of the pelvis in adolescent competitive athletes: prevalence, location and sports distribution of 203 cases collected. Skeletal Radiology

Objective. To describe the prevalence, localisation and sports distribution of pelvic avulsion fractures in adolescent competitive athletes. Design and patients. One thousand two hundred and thirty eight radiographs of the pelvis taken in athletes (11-35 age ranging) attained for focal traumatic symptoms, performed in 22 years (1976-1998) and filed at the Radiology Department of the Sports Science Institute of the Italian Olympic Committee were reviewed. Results. One hundred and ninety eight adolescent athletes affected by 203 avulsion fractures of the pelvis apophyses (five cases presented multiple locations). The localisations were Ischial Tuberosity (IT) 109 cases, Anterior Inferior Iliac Spine (AIIS) 45 cases, Anterior Superior Iliac Spine (ASIS) 39 cases, Superior Corner of Pubic Symphysis (SCPS) 7 cases and Iliac Crest (IC) 3 cases. Conclusions. Apophyseal avulsion fractures of the pelvis in adolescent competitive athletes are not a rare lesion especially observing soccer and gymnastics athletes. The lesions mainly are the consequences of sudden and forceful muscle-tendon contractions performing sport demands