Singapore Med J 2014; 55(10): e159-e161; http://dx.doi.org/10.11622/smedj.2014146
Bilateral scaphoid stress fracture in a platform diver presenting with unilateral symptoms
Mohamed Haflah NH, Mat Nor NF, Abdullah S, Sapuan J
Correspondence: A/Prof Nor Hazla Mohamed Haflah, hazla1971@yahoo.com
ABSTRACT
Scaphoid stress fracture is rare and occurs mainly in gymnasts. The current literature has only two reported cases: unilateral scaphoid stress fracture in a platform diver and bilateral scaphoid stress fracture in a gymnast. We herein report bilateral stress fracture of the scaphoid in a platform diver who presented with only one symptomatic side. Our patient was a 16-year-old competitive platform diver with an 18-month history of pain in the right wrist. Radiography revealed fracture of the right scaphoid at the waist. As part of our preoperative plan of measuring the scaphoid length to determine the appropriate screw, radiography of the contralateral side was performed, revealing an unexpected fracture of the left scaphoid. Due to the frequency of stress fractures in competitive sports, especially gymnastics, we recommend that bilateral scaphoid radiography be performed for athletes presenting with a unilateral scaphoid fracture, to avoid missing a fracture in the contralateral side.
Keywords: bilateral, platform diver, scaphoid, stress fracture
Singapore Med J 2014; 55(10): e159-e161; http://dx.doi.org/10.11622/smedj.2014146
REFERENCES
1. Kluger Y, Jarosz D, Paul DB, Townsend RN, Diamond DL. Diving injuries: a preventable catastrophe. J Trauma 1994; 36:349-51. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/00005373-199403000-00011 |
|
2. Hosey RG, Hauk JM, Boland MR. Scaphoid stress fracture: An unusual cause of wrist pain in a competitive diver. Orthopedics 2006; 29:503-5. PMid:16786942 |
|
3. Brutus JP, Chahidi N. Could this unusual scaphoid fracture occurring in a badminton player be a stress fracture? Chir Main 2004; 23:52-4. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.main.2003.12.006 |
|
4. Engel A, Feldner-Busztin H. Bilateral stress fracture of the scaphoid. A case report. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 1991; 110:314-5. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00443466 |
|
5. Nakamato JC, Saito M, Medina G, Schor B. Scaphoid stress fracture in high-level gymnast: A case report. Case Rep Orthop 2011; 2011:492407. |
|
6. Matzkin E, Singer DI. Scaphoid stress fracture in a 13-year-old gymnast: a case report. J Hand Surg Am 2000; 25:710-3. http://dx.doi.org/10.1053/jhsu.2000.7382 |
|
7. Hanks GA, Kalenak A, Bowman LS, Sebastianelli WJ. Stress fracture of the carpal scaphoid. J Bone Joint Surg 1989; 71:938-41. PMid:2745491 |
|
8. Boyes JH. Fractures and dislocations. In: Bunnell's Surgery of the Hand. 5th ed. Philadelphia: JB Lippincott, 1970: 592-5. |
|
9. Louis DS, Calhoun TP, Garn SM, Carroll RE, Burdi AR. Congenital bipartite scaphoid--fact or fiction? J Bone Joint Surg Am 1976; 58:1108-12. PMid:137245 |