Fifth metacarpal stress fracture in a female softball pitcher.
OBJECTIVE
This article describes a previously unreported fifth metacarpal stress fracture.


METHODS
A female softball pitcher presented with gradual development of dorsal pain in her pitching hand. A radioisotope scan showed increased uptake in the fifth metacarpal. This supported a clinical diagnosis of a stress fracture, and the patient was treated with a period of relative rest. At 6 weeks, the patient was able to return to pitching with technique modification.


CONCLUSIONS
Seven cases of metacarpal stress fractures have been reported, yet none involved the fifth metacarpal. The causes of a fifth metacarpal stress fracture differ from those of other metacarpals and may be a combination of extrinsic forces from the ball and intrinsic forces from muscle pull. Although treatment involves the standard rest period, technique must be assessed and appropriately adjusted.


CONCLUSIONS
Metacarpal stress fractures should be considered in athletes with persistent hand pain where repetitive grip function is used.
Jowett
A D
AD
Olympic Park Sports Medicine Centre, Melbourne, Australia.
Brukner
P D
PD
D000293:Adolescent; D001484:Baseball / Q000293:injuries*; D005260:Female; D015775:Fractures, Stress / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008663:Metacarpus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries*; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D017556:Technetium Compounds
D017556:Technetium Compounds