Tibia and fibula fractures in soccer players

We performed a retrospective review of 31 athletes who sustained a fracture of the lower leg from a direct blow while playing soccer. Fifteen fracture s involved both the tibia and fibula, 11 only the tibia, and 5 only the fib ula. Information was collected using a standardized questionnaire. The mean followup from the time of injury was 30 months. Injuries typically occurre d in young, competitive athletes during game situations. The mechanisms wer e broadly classified into several categories: contact during a slide tackle (13, 42%), a collision with the goalkeeper (8, 26%), two opposing players colliding while swinging for a loose bull (7, 23%), or a player being kicke d by a standing opponent (3, 10%). The majority of fractures (26, 90%) occu rred while the athletes were wearing shin guards. The paint of impact was w ith the shin guard prior to the fracture in 16 cases (62%). Return to compe titive soccer averaged 40 weeks for combined tibia and fibula fractures, 35 weeks for isolated tibia fractures, and IS weeks for isolated fibula fract ures. Injuries were associated with a high incidence of major complications (12 out of 31, 39%), especially in concurrent tibia and fibula fractures ( 8 out of 15, 50%). These findings suggest that lower leg fractures in socce r players are serious injuries, often necessitating a prolonged recovery ti me. In addition, this study questions the ability of shin guards to protect against fractures.