Skip to main content
Log in

Stress fracture of the olecranon in an adult baseball player

  • Sports Medicine
  • Published:
Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy Aims and scope

Abstract

Stress fractures of the olecranon caused by repetitive stress force have infrequently been reported as a cause of elbow pain in adult athletes, engaged in throwing and pitching sports. We diagnosed as a stress fracture of the olecranon by clinical and radiographic findings and treated surgically. The patient returned to playing baseball at a competitive level and was asymptomatic 4 months after the first operation. However, the patient re-injured the olecranon and a second surgical treatment was performed almost 1 year after the first operation. After the second surgery, the patient returned to playing baseball at a competitive level and was free from elbow symptoms. We presented a stress fracture of the olecranon in a semi-professional adult baseball player and suggested that surgical treatment is necessary.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Brukner P (1998) Stress fractures of the upper limb. Sports Med 26:415–424

    Google Scholar 

  2. Chan D, Aldridge MJ, Maffulli N, Davies AM (1991) Chronic stress injuries of the elbow in young gymnasts. Br J Radiol 64:1113–1118

    Google Scholar 

  3. Fujioka H, Tsunoda M, Noda M, Matsui N, Mizuno K (2000) Treatment of ununited fracture of the hook of the hamate by low-intensity pulsed ultrasound. A case report. J Hand Surg Am 25:77–79

    Google Scholar 

  4. Heckman JD, Ryaby JP, McCabe J, Frey JJ, Kilcoyne RF (1994) Acceleration of tibial fracture-healing by non-invasive, low-intensity pulsed ultrasound. J Bone Joint Surg Am 76:26–34

    Google Scholar 

  5. Hulkko A, Orava S, Nikula P (1986) Stress fractures of the olecranon in javelin throwers. Int J Sports Med 7:210–213

    Google Scholar 

  6. King JW, Brelsford HJ, Tullos HS (1969) Analysis of the pitching arm of the professional baseball pitcher. Clin Orthop 67:116–123

    Google Scholar 

  7. Kristiansen TK, Ryaby JP, McCabe J, Frey JJ, Roe LR (1997) Accelerated healing of distal radial fractures with the use of specific, low-intensity ultrasound: a multicenter, prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. J Bone Joint Surg Am 79:961–973

    Google Scholar 

  8. Nuber GW, Diment MT (1992) Olecranon stress fractures in throwers. A report of two cases and a review of the literature. Clin Orthop 278:58–61

    Google Scholar 

  9. Rao PS, Rao SK, Navadgi BC (2001) Olecranon stress fracture in a weight lifter: a case report. Br J Sports Med 35:72–73

    Google Scholar 

  10. Takikawa S, Matsui N, Kokubu T, Tsunoda M, Fujioka H, Mizuno K, Azuma Y (2001) Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound initiates bone healing in rat nonunion fracture model. J Ultrasound Med 20:197–205

    Google Scholar 

  11. Torg JS, Moyer RA (1977) Non-union of a stress fracture through the olecranon epiphyseal plate observed in an adolescent baseball pitcher. A case report. J Bone Joint Surg Am 59:264–265

    Google Scholar 

  12. Wilkerson RD, Johns JC (1990) Nonunion of an olecranon stress fracture in an adolescent gymnast. A case report. Am J Sports Med 18:432–434

    Google Scholar 

  13. Wilson FD, Andrews JR, Blackburn TA, McCluskey G (1983) Valgus extension overload in the pitching elbow. Am J Sport Med 11:83–88

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hiroyuki Fujioka.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Nakaji, N., Fujioka, H., Tanaka, J. et al. Stress fracture of the olecranon in an adult baseball player. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 14, 390–393 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-005-0622-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-005-0622-0

Keywords

Navigation