Stress injuries to bone in college athletes: a retrospective review of experience at a single institution.
BACKGROUND
No comprehensive studies have been published on stress injuries to bone in college athletes.


OBJECTIVE
To review, in a college athlete population, the epidemiologic aspects of stress injuries to bone, and to examine a subset of patients who were treated with a uniform protocol for return to activities, with magnetic resonance imaging as the primary tool for diagnosis.


METHODS
Retrospective review.


METHODS
Ten years of medical records from a Division I college institution were reviewed. Location and grade of stress injury to bone and duration of disability were recorded. All injured athletes followed the same treatment program, with the exception of football players, who were excluded from the return to sport analyses.


RESULTS
Seventy-four athletes had lower extremity symptoms consistent with stress injury to bone. Diagnosis was confirmed in 68 of these athletes, 61 via magnetic resonance imaging, 6 via positive radiographs only, and 1 via bone scan only. Distance runners accounted for the most stress injuries to bone for both men and women. The tibia (37%) was the most frequently involved bone; however, as an anatomic region, the foot (44%) was the site of the most stress injuries. There was a significant correlation between grade of injury and time to full return to activity.


CONCLUSIONS
The grading system used at this institution is a standardized tool that can be used to predict time to return to sport. A standardized rehabilitation protocol allowed for an appropriate plan to return the athletes to pain-free competition.
Arendt
Elizabeth
E
Department of Orthopedics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, USA.
Agel
Julie
J
Heikes
Christie
C
Griffiths
Harry
H
D000328:Adult; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000293:injuries*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007869:Leg Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008910:Minnesota / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies