Middle-shaft clavicle stress fracture in a non-athlete adult after excessive daily push-ups: a case report

Abstract

Objective: We present a case of middle-shaft clavicle stress fracture after push-ups in a nonathletic adult.

Patient: A 34-year-old healthy male, who did hundreds of push-ups every day for over 4 months, developed a sudden exacerbation of shoulder pain and mid-clavicular swelling, in the setting of approximately one week of prodromal pain. Plain radiographs of the clavicle revealed a minimally displaced midshaft fracture. A middle-shaft clavicular stress fracture was diagnosed based on the patient’s history and clinical findings.

Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of a diaphyseal clavicle stress fracture in a non-athletic adult that occurred after excessive daily push-ups. Even in nonathletic patients, clavicular stress fractures should be included in the differential diagnosis of shoulder pain.