Case report - (2015)14, 37 - 40
Stress Fracture of the Ulna in an Elite Ice Dancer
Davide Tornese1,, Domenico Curci2, Alice Nardo3, Alessandra Cuccia4, Grazia Pozzi4
1Center for Sports Rehabilitation,
2Sports Traumatology and Arthroscopic Surgery Unit,
3Motion Analysis Laboratory,
4Department of Radiology, IRCCS Galeazzi Orthopaedic Institute, Milan, Italy

Davide Tornese
✉ Center for Sports Rehabilitation, IRCCS Galeazzi Orthopaedic Institute, Milan, Italy
Email: davidzai@tin.it
Received: 10-06-2014 -- Accepted: 27-09-2014
Published (online): 01-03-2015

ABSTRACT

Stress fracture of the ulna is a rare overuse injury often arising from repetitive excessive forearm rotation. Here we report the first case of ulnar stress fracture in a female ice dancer. Diagnosis was made by history and physical examination, with the aid of imaging studies (plain x-ray, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging), and biomechanical analysis of forearm pronation and supination. Following identification and modification of the causal technical element, the ice dancer was able to continue training and competing without cessation of activity. Treatment was with a 30-day course of capacitively coupled bone stimulation to promote fracture healing, confirmed on radiography and magnetic resonance imaging. Such injuries to ice dancers may be prevented at the planning stage of technical elements in the dance program if coaches place more attention on the potentially deleterious effects of difficult positions the lifted dancer must sustain to reward points on the technical elements score.

Key words: Figure skating, ice dancing, overuse injury, stress fracture

Key Points
  • The technical elements in ice dancing can overload joints and bones due to the positions held by the skaters.
  • To project a competition program as much as possible safe regarding overuse injury prevention an accurate knowledge of physiological parameters of the ice dancer and of ISU rules is necessary.








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