Fractures in Combatants-Training Epitome or Inherent Cause: Retrospective Analysis

Author(s): Y Devadoss, Gurmeet Singh Sarla, Yelamanchi Hanock Devadoss, Mahesh Muraleedharan

Stress fractures are most commonly sustained during the first few weeks of training by recruits who are not accustomed to high intensity activities involving jumping, walking, running, and marching can precipitate the development of repetitive stress. All of these activities are incorporated as part of daily military training exercises, in both the training centers.

In our hospital we have received recruits from two training establishments which are involved in maintenance of heavy equipment’s and machinery, over a period of 2020 to 2022, during which 2115, 960 , total of 3075, individuals were trained in each training establishment per year, i.e. total of 6150 recruits.

We have observed total of 292 cases per year in 2020-2021 and 284 cases in 2021-2022. Out of which tibial upper third fractures were (1.98%), mid third tibia fractures (3.51%), tibial lower third fractures (2.34%), fracture both bones were (0.35%), fracture fibula were (0.84%), fracture of metatarsals (0.29%), fracture of femur (0.03%), for 02 years.

The recruits were managed with rest, analgesics, pop cast immobilization, wax bath, and period of rest from intense physical activity for periods of 06 weeks and 08 weeks depending on recovery. Most of the recruits were recovered completely and able to complete the training .out of 576 stress fractures 6 were boarded out due to recurrence of stress fracture.