Avulsion Fracture of the Anterior Inferior Iliac Spine

Avulsion Fracture of the Anterior Inferior Iliac Spine



Description


Avulsion fractures of the anterior inferior iliac spine (AIIS) are separations of bone resulting from pulls of muscle–tendon units. These may occur in fully grown athletes, although in the pelvis, they tend to occur more commonly in skeletally immature (growing) athletes. This is due to the relative weakness of the growth plate compared with the bone, muscle, and tendon. An avulsion fracture in the growing athlete is a separation of bone at the growth plate, and injury to the growth plate commonly occurs with repeated stress or vigorous exercise (a similar injury in adults is a muscle–tendon strain). Because the pelvic growth plates close at skeletal maturity, avulsion fractures of the AIIS are uncommon in persons who are fully grown.


The AIIS is the bony attachment of part of one of the quadriceps (thigh) muscles, the rectus femoris. The quadriceps are important in bending the hip and straightening the knee.



Common signs and symptoms



• A slightly swollen, warm, and tender area in the front of the hip

• Pain with activity, especially stretching the muscle or having the muscle contract to perform its function, such as forcefully bending the hip or straightening the knee or stretching with the knee bent and hip straight (the “hurdler’s stretch”)

• Pain with walking, often walking with a limp

• A popping sound in the area at the time of injury

• Crepitation (a crackling sound) when the area is touched

• Bruising in the thigh 48 hours after the injury

• Weakness when bending the hip


Cause


Avulsion fracture of the AIIS is the result of a powerful contraction of the quadriceps muscles, such as with kicking sports, with force exceeding the strength of the growth plate

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Jul 18, 2016 | Posted by in SPORT MEDICINE | Comments Off on Avulsion Fracture of the Anterior Inferior Iliac Spine

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