Avulsion Fracture of the Medial Epicondyle of the Humerus and Ulnar Nerve Neurolysis in a Male Soccer Player—A Case Study

Avulsion Fracture of the Medial Epicondyle of the Humerus and Ulnar Nerve Neurolysis in a Male Soccer Player—A Case Study

Objective: The purpose of this case study is to educate the sports medicine community about serious orthopedic injuries that occur to non-dominant areas of the body that are not required for the athlete to compete in that sport. The knowledge and preparedness to handle a wide variety of injuries allows the sports medicine professional to provide a higher standard of care.

Background: A 15 year old male soccer player jumps up for a ball, collides with a fellow player, and falls down catching himself on his left elbow. He has been playing soccer for 5 years on club teams and just this year for his high school. He has no prior history of orthopedic injury.

Treatment: The athlete was referred to an orthopedic surgeon and surgical repair was suggested. The surgery consisted of an open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) of the medical epicondyle of the humerus and the soft tissue and replacement of the ulnar nerve to the groove. Currently his rehabilitation program consists of active and passive range of motion, but no resistive as of yet. There is no set protocol for rehabilitation—it is modified as the athlete heals by the surgeon.

Uniqueness: Upper extremity injuries are very rare in soccer and the combination of these severe injuries is remarkable. There is a limited amount of research on each of these injuries and how they affect athletes. Conclusion: The sports medicine professional should not rule out any possibility of injury no matter what the sport.