Rare consecutive femoral lesser trochanteric avulsion in an adolescent following sporting activities; a case report

Avulsion of the lesser trochanter is a rare but disturbing condition, which usually occurs in males between the ages of 7-16 years with significant physical activities or in athletes. Diagnosis is more often than not challenging, but with a good history, physical examination, and imaging modality, d...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: John Ifeanyi Ubimago, MBBS(Jos), Meraiyebu Aminyene Essien, MBBS(IUO), Kingsley Iyoko Iseko, MBBS(Ib),FWACS, Omachoko Emmanuel Oguche, MBBS(Zaria),FWACS(Ortho)FMC(Ortho), Nkechi Gift Inyang, BSc Radiography(UNICAL), Kalma Pembari Sabiya, B.Sc. Radiography(UNIMAID)
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2023-02-01
Series:Radiology Case Reports
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1930043322009554
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Summary:Avulsion of the lesser trochanter is a rare but disturbing condition, which usually occurs in males between the ages of 7-16 years with significant physical activities or in athletes. Diagnosis is more often than not challenging, but with a good history, physical examination, and imaging modality, diagnosis can be clinched, and the prognosis is good even with a conservative management approach. This case report is that of a 12-year-old male who suddenly fell while participating in sporting activities in school. As a consequence of the fall, he felt severe pain in the left groin region with an associated inability to bear weight on the affected limb. A radiograph study of the hip revealed a fracture of the left lesser trochanter. Based on the diagnosis, a conservative approach, which entails the use of analgesics, and partial weight-bearing mobilization with axillary crutches to take the weight off the affected limb for a period, was the choice of management for this subject. Fifteen weeks following the conservative management for the avulsion of the left femoral lesser trochanter fracture, the subject sustained a similar injury to the contralateral groin, consequential to return to sporting activities. In conclusion, rare as avulsion of the lesser trochanter may be, a high index of suspicion must be raised in any adolescent with a painful limp following engagement in any sporting activities, and such individuals should have a radiograph study done to achieve prompt and effective care.
ISSN:1930-0433