Stress Fractures of Sacrum

Background: Stress fractures of sacrum are rare overuse injuries. They are difficult to diagnose, because usually the symptoms are thought to result from other reasons in the pelvic area. Purpose: To report a series of sacral stress fractures in athletes and physically active older individuals. Study design: Case series. Methods: During the years 1996 – 2009 a total of 40 cases of sacrum stress fractures were treated in Private Hospital Sports Clinic in Turku, Finland and RFEA Clinic, Madrid, Spain. MRI was used for diagnosis in all patients but one. Results: All athletes were able to start running 2.5 months after the diagnosis and full training was possible after 3.5 months. Initial radiography was negative in all patients. Conclusion: Early MRI is recommended in endurance runners. Older individuals and amenorrheic females with possibly osteoporotic bones require longer resting period from impact training. Compensative training program is safe and doesn’t interfere the healing of sacrum stress fracture.

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