Clay-shoveler fracture in a paddler : a case report

Abstract

Clay-shoveler fracture is a fracture of the spinous process of lower cervical and upper thoracic vertebrae. It has only rarely been reported as being caused by an overuse sports injury. This case report describes the first reported clay-shoveler fracture in a paddler. A 51-year-old male paddler, preparing for a paddling adventure over 630 km, felt a click and a sharp pain paravertebrally on the level of the upper thoracic vertebrae while paddling. Sonar investigation did not reveal any muscular injury but computed tomography revealed a fracture of the spinous process of T1. In this case, it is a stress injury due to excessive paddling over a short period of time. This fracture causes debilitating pain in the acute phase and is mainly treated conservatively