Vertebral fracture in a pilot during centrifuge training: finding of osteopenia.
We report on a case of an F-16 pilot who suffered a compression fracture of the L5 vertebral body during centrifuge training. The pilot sustained the injury during a rapid onset to 6 G run. He was subsequently diagnosed to have osteopenia with a bone mineral density T-score of -1.95. This report discusses the medical and operational management of the pilot with this rare condition. The pilot has since returned to flying duties, albeit in a transportplatform.
Low
Robin
R
Republic of Singapore Air Force Aeromedical Centre, Singapore. binch@cyberway.com.sg
Teoh
Timothy
T
Loh
Adrian
A
Ooi
Allan
A
D000328:Adult; D000337:Aerospace Medicine; D019386:Alendronate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001851:Bone Diseases, Metabolic / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D002118:Calcium / Q000627:therapeutic use; D050815:Fractures, Compression / Q000209:etiology*; D006112:Gravitation; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries*; D008297:Male
D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D002118:Calcium; D019386:Alendronate