Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 6, 2025

Subject-specific Musculoskeletal Model for Studying Bone Strain During Dynamic Motion
Published on: April 11, 2018
Trapezoid Stress Fracture in an Olympic-Level Gymnast: A Case Report
Nicholas M Bertha1, Jeffrey J Wisinski, Kenneth F Taylor
1Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, Pennsylvania.
Case:
A 23-year-old elite-level gymnast presented with insidious-onset pain near the base of the second metacarpal. The patient was found to have a trapezoid stress fracture and was treated nonoperatively in a thumb spica cast for 4 weeks. He resumed gymnastics without limitations 8 weeks from the time of diagnosis.
Conclusion:
Trapezoid stress fractures must be considered when evaluating patients presenting with pain about the base of the index finger metacarpal, particularly those who perform activities that repetitively place high loads across the wrist. Wrist immobilization and a supervised return to participation resulted in an excellent outcome for this patient.
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