Abstract
The physical demand of the modern game of cricket on the fast bowler is known to cause stress fractures of the lumbar spine.
Between 1983 and 2001, we diagnosed pars interarticularis defects in 18 professional cricketers contracted to a single English county cricket club. Initial management was conservative based on a combination of rest, supervised rehabilitation, bowling action analysis and re-education if indicated. Re-deployment (for example an all rounder to concentrate on batting alone) was also considered. 8 of the patient group responded to these measures. The remaining 10 were treated surgically, 9 by Buck’s repair of the spondylolytic lesion. All 9 returned to professional sport with an average follow-up of 5 years 8 months and a maximum follow-up of 10 years.
We recommend treatment of this group of sportsmen in a unit consisting of a specialist physiotherapist, a bowling coach and a spinal surgeon. Should conservative measures fail, we recommend Buck’s repair as the operation of choice. Whether treated conservatively or surgically, we believe the vast majority of this patient group should be able to return to full professional sport
The abstracts were prepared by Mr Richard Buxton. Correspondence should be addressed to him at Bankton Cottage, 21 Bankton Park, Kingskettle, Cupar, Fife KY15 7PY, United Kingdom
