Stress fracture of the thoracic spine in an elite rhythmic gymnast: A case report

Subash C Jha; Toshinori Sakai; Mika Hangai; Akiko Toyota; Shoji Fukuta; Akihiro Nagamachi; Koichi Sairyo

doi:10.2152/jmi.63.119

Case reports

Stress fracture of the thoracic spine in an elite rhythmic gymnast: A case report

Subash C Jha, Toshinori Sakai, Mika Hangai, Akiko Toyota, Shoji Fukuta, Akihiro Nagamachi, Koichi Sairyo

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Keywords: Stress fracture, Thoracic spine, Spondylolysis, Athletes

JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

2016 Volume 63 Issue 1.2 Pages 119-121

DOI https://doi.org/10.2152/jmi.63.119

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Abstract

Spondylolysis, a defect or stress fracture of the vertebral pars interarticularis, occurs most frequently in the lower lumbar spine and occasionally in the cervical spine, but is extremely rare in the thoracic spine. We report the case of a 17 year-old girl, an elite rhythmic gymnast, who reported with early-stage thoracic spondylolysis at T10 and T11 levels. Physicians should be aware that performance of unusual athletic movements, such as those by gymnasts, may lead to spondylolysis in rare locations. J. Med. Invest. 63: 119-121, February, 2016

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