Avulsion Fracture of the Ischial Tuberosity of the Pelvis

Avulsion Fracture of the Ischial Tuberosity of the Pelvis



Description


Avulsion fractures 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. Injury to the growth plate commonly occurs with repeated stress or vigorous exercise, and an avulsion in the growing athlete is thus a separation of bone at the growth plate (a similar injury in adults is a muscle–tendon strain). Because the pelvic growth plate closes by age 20 to 25, this problem is uncommon after these ages.


The ischial tuberosity is the bony attachment of the hamstring tendons. The hamstring muscles extend (straighten) the hip and bend the knee. They are also stretched when the hip is bent and the knee is straight (the hurdler’s position).



Common signs and symptoms



• A slightly swollen, warm, and tender area of the pelvis at the buttocks

• Pain with activity, especially stretching the muscle (bending the hip and straightening the knee) or having the muscle contract to perform its function, such as forcefully straightening the hip or bending the knee

• Pain with walking, often walking with a limp

• Pain with sitting

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

• Muscle spasm in the back of the thigh

• Crepitation (a crackling sound) when the tendon is moved or touched

• Bruising in the thigh 48 hours after the injury

• Loss of fullness of the muscle

• Weakness when bending the knee or straightening the hip


Causes


Avulsion fractures of the ischial tuberosity of the pelvis result from powerful contraction of the hamstring muscles, with force exceeding the strength of the growth plate.

< div class='tao-gold-member'>

Related posts:

Default ThumbnailBirth Control and Sports Default ThumbnailEye Foreign Body Concussion Effort Thrombosis Proximal Tibiofibular Joint Dislocation Subtalar Dislocation

Stay updated, free articles. Join our Telegram channel
Tags:
Jul 18, 2016 | Posted by in SPORT MEDICINE | Comments Off on Avulsion Fracture of the Ischial Tuberosity of the Pelvis

Full access? Get Clinical Tree
Get Clinical Tree app for offline access