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Sternal fracture in an Australian Rules footballer

Robert J Douglas
Med J Aust 2008; 188 (8): . || doi: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2008.tb01737.x
Published online: 21 April 2008

To the Editor: A 20-year-old sub-elite Australian Rules football player presented with pain and tenderness in the lower third of the sternum. He had been involved in a moderate body collision with an opposing player about 3 weeks before presentation, and had continued to train and play despite sternal discomfort. He described no other symptoms.


  • Emergency Department, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, SA.


Correspondence: rabs01@hotmail.com

Acknowledgements: 

Acknowledgement: I would like to thank Dr Tonia Mezzini for her assistance in preparing this letter.

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  • 4. de Oliveira M, Hassan TB, Sebewufu R, et al. Long-term morbidity in patients suffering a sternal fracture following discharge from the A and E department. Injury 1998; 29: 609-612.
  • 5. Woo CC. Traumatic manubriosternal joint subluxations in two basketball players. J Manipulative Physiol Ther 1988; 11: 433-437.

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