Anterior superior iliac spine avulsion fracture presenting as meralgia paraesthetica in an adolescent sprinter.

OBJECTIVE: We report here a rare case of anterior superior iliac spine avulsion fracture that presented initially as meralgia paraesthetica.

CASE REPORT: A 14-year-old male sprinter presented with anterior superior iliac spine avulsion fracture, which was not observed on initial plain radiograph of the hip, but was diagnosed by ultrasound. Both clinical presentations and electrophysiological studies indicated meralgia paraesthetica. The lateral femoral cutaneous nerve of the thigh was probably compressed by an inguinal haematoma resulting from sartorius muscle strain, which was detected on musculoskeletal ultrasound. Computed tomography of the pelvis confirmed anterior superior iliac spine avulsion fracture.

CONCLUSION: Meralgia paraesthetica in adolescents can be due to anterior superior iliac spine avulsion fracture. Sonography is a valuable tool for screening for muscular haematoma and occult fractures, which may allow clinicians to diagnose the nature of the muscle injury, and thus guide the most appropriate therapeutic strategy.