@article{ref1,
title="The footballer's fracture",
journal="British journal of sports medicine",
year="1996",
author="Cattermole, H. R. and Hardy, J. R. and Gregg, P. J.",
volume="30",
number="2",
pages="171-175",
abstract="OBJECTIVE: To describe the typical tibial diaphyseal fracture (&quot;footballer's fracture&quot;) and to clarify the circumstances and mechanism of the injury. <br><br>METHODS: In an attempt to obtain a detailed analysis of the types of injury suffered, and thereby highlight areas for prevention, 100 consecutive adult football players with a tibial diaphyseal fracture were studied prospectively. Details of the circumstances and mechanism of injury were collected using a questionnaire (response rate 85%). Treatments depended on the Gustilo classification, displacement, and axial stability. Long term follow up was performed until clinical healing to define the overall prognosis. <br><br>RESULTS: 61% of players suffered a fracture of both the tibia and the fibula. Ninety five percent of the tibial fractures were transverse or short oblique and were caused by impact during a tackle. Radiographic evidence of bridging callus was better than a classification of the bony injury for predicting weeks to clinical healing. The delayed union and non-union incidence following this injury is low. One patient suffered symptomatic shortening. One patient suffered symptomatic angulation and two patients with nonunion required bone grafting. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Tibial fracture is an expensive injury. It prevents a young population from being employed and takes up valuable NHS resources. As 85% of players were wearing shin guards, it is likely that improvements in shin guard design could reduce the rate of tibial fracture.  Keywords: Soccer<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0306-3674",
doi="",
url="http://dx.doi.org/"
}