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Upper Lumbar Bone Stress Injuries in Elite Cricketers
Richard Saw1, Anna Saw, Alex Kountouris
1Cricket Australia, Jolimont, VIC, Australia .
Summary
Upper lumbar bone stress injuries (LBSI) affect nearly half of all LBSI in elite cricketers. Early return to play without bony union increases re-injury risk, emphasizing the need for adequate healing time.
Area of Science:
- Sports Medicine
- Orthopedics
- Biomechanics
Background:
- Lumbar bone stress injuries (LBSI) are common in athletes, particularly in cricket.
- Upper LBSI (T12-L3) represent a significant subset of these injuries, impacting elite cricketers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the proportion of upper LBSI relative to all LBSI in elite cricketers.
- To describe the clinical presentation, diagnosis, and management of upper LBSI.
Main Methods:
- A case series design was employed over a 9-year period.
- Data were collected from elite Australian cricketers, focusing on symptomatic upper LBSI diagnosed via clinical findings and medical imaging.
Main Results:
- Upper LBSI accounted for 41% of all LBSI in the cohort, with L2 and L3 vertebrae most commonly affected.
- Contralateral injuries (to the bowling arm) were prevalent (69%), with ipsilateral injuries often occurring secondary to non-united contralateral defects.
- Return to bowling training was significantly longer for fractures achieving bony union (median 152 days) compared to those with partial or no union (median 68 days).
Conclusions:
- Upper LBSI are frequent in elite cricketers, comprising approximately 2 in 5 LBSI cases.
- Delayed bony union and early return to play are associated with recurrent injuries, highlighting the importance of sufficient rehabilitation time.
