Classification of Olecranon Stress Fractures in Baseball Players

Abstract

This study presents a new classification system for the different types of OSFs based on the origin and direction of the fracture plane. This new system was strongly influenced by the age at symptom onset. Such information is essential for successful open reduction and internal fixation by ensuring that fixation pressure is perpendicular to the fracture plane, which will avoid the recurrence of stress fractures. In addition, the prevalence of UCL injuries suggests that it is a major risk factor for the development of OSFs.

Elbow Imaging in Sport: Sports Imaging Series

“…The course, caliber, and signal intensity of the ulnar nerve should be carefully evaluated to the levels above and below the reconstruction. In addition to interval soft-tissue injury, Schwartz et al (30) described avulsion of the medial epicondyle as a rare complication of UCL reconstruction in seven throwing athletes, involving the humeral tunnel or tunnels of the UCL reconstruction, which can act as a stress riser (30,34). The diagnosis can typically be readily made by means of radiography, CT, or MR imaging.…”

“…Patients typically complain of pain during extension or follow-through (31,32). In adults, these shear forces can also result in characteristic oblique fractures through the olecranon (34,35).…”

Olecranon Stress Injury in an Adolescent Overhand Pitcher

“…The physeal type, which is most common in adolescents and occurs when delayed closure or nonunion is found along the line of the epiphyseal plate, was the most common in this study and further divided into 4 stages based on severity. 9 …”

“…The athlete’s age and skeletal maturity, specifically the state of closure of the epiphyseal plate of the olecranon, have implications on pattern of injury as well as potential consequences on severity of injury in throwing athletes. 9 This patient’s epiphyseal plate was closed, ostensibly decreasing a predisposition to a physeal-type stress injury (see Figure 1 ).…”

Overuse Upper Extremity Injuries in the Skeletally Immature Patient: Beyond Little League Shoulder and Elbow

“…As the olecranon apophysis attempts to close, chronic overuse and valgus extension overload stress may eventually lead to an olecranon stress fracture. In a recent review of 200 throwers with olecranon findings, Furushima et al 48 proposed a new classification of olecranon stress fractures based on the origin and directionality of the fracture plane with five types observed. The authors describe physeal, classic, transitional, sclerotic, and distal subgroups of olecranon stress fractures as shown in ►Fig.…”