Clay-Shoveler Fracture of an Adolescent Tennis Player

Abstract

Case: A 17-year-old male tennis player presented with persistent and increasing posterior neck pain. An overuse of tennis stroke motion resulted in a clay-shoveler fracture at the first thoracic vertebra. The patient was able to fully return to tennis after discontinuation of the causative motion and conservative treatment. Conclusions: This report presents a clay-shoveler fracture occurring in a tennis player. Although this fracture is rare in the modern era, it is characterized by its causative motion and site of occurrence. Knowing these characteristics, care should be taken not to miss it.