Abstract
BackgroundHumeral stress fractures are rare injuries usually related to sports practice and joint overload without a direct trauma. A proximal humeral stress fracture has never been reported in a CrossFit athlete.Case presentationWe report a stress fracture in the humerus of a 22-year-old woman after intense CrossFit training. Patient’s previous medical history included amenorrhea and reduced Vitamin D levels. The patient was treated conservatively and resumed CrossFit training after she was advised not to until follow up imaging.ConclusionsWe present the MRI features of the case and emphasize the difficulties in diagnosis due to multiple possible causes of shoulder pain in a CrossFit athlete and by negative findings on early radiographs. Hormonal variations, Vitamin D insufficiency and the patient’s attitude towards exercise were important factors that contributed for the stress injury after weight-lifting in CrossFit.
Highlights
Humeral stress fractures are rare injuries usually related to sports practice and joint overload without a direct trauma
Stress fractures are rare injuries characterized by the presence of a transverse, oblique or longitudinal bone fracture line without a direct trauma
The distal humeral shaft is usually affected in throwing sports such as baseball and lacrosse [2, 3], while proximal humeral stress fractures are related to weight lifting sports [4]
Summary
We present the MRI features of the case and emphasize the difficulties in diagnosis due to multiple possible causes of shoulder pain in a CrossFit athlete and by negative findings on early radiographs. Vitamin D insufficiency and the patient’s attitude towards exercise were important factors that contributed for the stress injury after weight-lifting in CrossFit
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