Pain Relief Treatment of Fresh Sacral Fracture for a Professional Snowboarder one Month before Participation in the Winter Olympic Games

Authors

Klemen Aleš Pilih, Department of Traumatology and Orthopedics, General Hospital Slovenj Gradec, Slovenj Gradec, Slovenia; Katarina Breznik, University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Physiotherapy, Ljubljana, Slovenia; Miran Jeromel, Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Slovenj Gradec General Hospital, Slovenj Gradec, Slovenia; Renata Vauhnik, University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Physiotherapy, Ljubljana, Slovenia; Božena Jerković Parać, Department of Anesthesiology, Slovenj Gradec General Hospital, Slovenj Gradec, Slovenia

Synopsis

Sacral fractures result from trauma, stress, or low-energy impacts, especially in weakened bones. These fractures often present with nonspecific symptoms and require advanced imaging for diagnosis. Treatment varies based on fracture severity, with options ranging from conservative to surgical approaches. Pain management can involve pharmacological and non-pharmacological methods, such as acupuncture. A multidisciplinary approach is essential for recovery, particularly for athletes, to ensure early mobilization and avoid complications. In the case of a professional snowboarder who sustained a sacral fracture before the 2022 Winter Olympics, a CT-guided pain block and acupuncture enabled him to compete pain-free just 32 days post-injury. This case highlights the importance of an individualized, multidisciplinary approach when managing fractures in high-performance athletes, balancing both the healing process and the need to return to competition.

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Published

March 6, 2025

License

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

How to Cite

Pilih, K. A., Breznik, K., Jeromel, M., Vauhnik, R., & Jerković Parać, B. (2025). Pain Relief Treatment of Fresh Sacral Fracture for a Professional Snowboarder one Month before Participation in the Winter Olympic Games. In Y. Istileulova (Ed.), Socratic Lectures 12th International Symposium, Ljubljana, 11. January, 2025: PART I (pp. 84-89). University of Ljubljana Press. https://doi.org/10.55295/PSL.12.2025.I11