Abstract
Twenty-seven cases (23 males and 4 females) with rib fatigue fractures after continuous stress were experienced.
The fractures occurred during playing golf in 14 cases, baseball in 4 cases and heavy work in 2 cases. In golfing, 72 percent (11 out of 14) of the cases had fractures within 3 months after they started playing. The lesions were found on the opposite side of their handedness in all cases. The 5th and 6th ribs were most commonly affected. Most of the cases threw more than 200 balls a day. In baseball, fractures occurred on the same side of their handedness during sidethrow in most cases.
Doctor's questions, clinical symptoms, X-ray films, and bone scintigram were useful for the diagnosis, but patient history is most valuable.
