title: Tibia and fibula fractures in soccer players.
abstract: We performed a retrospective review of 31 athletes who sustained a fracture of the lower leg from a direct blow while playing soccer. Fifteen fractures involved both the tibia and fibula 11 only the tibia, and 5 only the fibula. Information was collected using a standardized questionnaire. The mean follow-up from the time of injury was 30 months. Injuries typically occurred in young, competitive athletes during game situations. The mechanisms were broadly classified into several categories: contact during a slide tackle (13, 42%), a collision with the goalkeeper (8, 26%), two opposing players colliding while swinging for a loose ball (7, 23%), or a player being kicked by a standing opponent (3, 10%). The majority of fractures (26, 90%) occurred while the athletes were wearing shin guards. The point of impact was with the shin guard prior to the fracture in 16 cases (62%). Return to competitive soccer averaged 40 weeks for combined tibia and fibula fractures, 35 weeks for isolated tibia fractures, and 18 weeks for isolated fibula fractures. Injuries were associated with a high incidence of major complications (12 out of 31, 39%), especially in concurrent tibia and fibula fractures (8 out of 15, 50%). These findings suggest that lower leg fractures in soccer players are serious injuries, often necessitating a prolonged recovery time. In addition, this study questions the ability of shin guards to protect against fractures.
authors.affiliation: Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences, Silver Spring, MD 20902, USA.
authors.forename: B P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Boden
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lohnes
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Nunley
authors.forename: W E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Garrett
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005360:Fibula / Q000293:injuries*; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011481:Protective Clothing; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012916:Soccer / Q000293:injuries*; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy