![]() As the fracture pattern looked terminal, bony union was going to be highly unlikely and the patient was counselled about the same. Non-contrast CT scan confirmed the diagnosis of displaced fracture non-union from L1 to L5 transverse processes on the left side (Figure 3 and Figure 4). X rays of abdomen and lumbosacral spine were carried out that revealed fracture non-union of L1 to L5 vertebral transverse processes on left side (Figure 1 and Figure 2). Repeated abdomen ultrasounds were performed and reported to be normal. There was a mild scoliotic deformity with convexity to the left side and deep tenderness in left paraspinal region. Motor power, sensory examination and reflexes (deep tendon and superficial) of all the four limbs were found to be normal. On examination, the vital parameters and systemic examinations including respiratory, central and peripheral nervous, cardiovascular systems and abdomen were normal. The pain was localised to the lower back and the over the left flank. At the time of presentation, the pain was so severe that it not only hampered his athletic career, but also had significantly affected his activities of daily living. Initially, the pain was gradual in onset, typically aggravated on activities and relieved with rest and medications. Also, as per the history, there was no relation of the onset of pain with the injury sustained as the injury occurred around 5 months before the pain actually started. There was no history of loss of consciousness, ear or nasal bleed, seizures, abdominal pain, backache at the time of initial trauma, though minor skin abrasions were allegedly present. ![]() However, the injury sustained was insignificant according to him. On further inquiry, the patient came up with a history of slip while bowling around three years back. There was no history of sensory, motor or autonomic deficits. He had received long, albeit unsuccessful treatments (predominantly with NSAIDs and physiotherapy). We discuss uniqueness in the mechanism of such injuries and expatiate on the preventive and treatment aspects of management.Ī twenty-six years old young cricketer (an amateur right handed fast bowler who was playing at the state level with an average of 7 to 8 matches at the state and club levels every month and 2-3 hours of training on an average daily) presented to the out-patient department of our hospital in August 2009 with complaint of pain in lower back for three years. The present article deals with a fast bowler (cricketer) who had presented to us with chronic low-back ache following displaced stress fractures of multiple transverse processes of lumbar vertebrae. The spine, described as central pillar of the body, bears a major brunt of these athletic trauma. The modern protective gadgets, lately available universally to cricketers, have greatly reduced the collision injuries, notwithstanding a relative, steady rise in the incidence of the overuse injuries. This has expectedly ensued in an increase in the number of cricketing injuries lately: broadly classified into collision injuries (direct contact) and overuse injuries. ![]() Cricket, though long heralded as a "gentleman's game", has evolved into shorter and more competitive versions involving greater aggression, more stressful training programmes and heavier workload on the athletes on par with any other professional sports.
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