Traumatic tibia shaft fractures caused by the impact of a golf ball: two case reports

BACKGROUND: As golf becomes increasingly popular, the number of injuries while playing golf also increases. We experienced two cases of traumatic tibia shaft fractures caused by the impact of a golf ball. CASE PRESENTATION: A 48-year-old Korean man and a 43-year-old Korean man were diagnosed as having linear tibia shaft fractures on the right leg and left leg, respectively. Both of them were treated with closed intramedullary nails. Calculated impact power of the golf ball at the time of tibia fracture was 3372 and 5825 N, respectively. Radiologic and clinical complications such as nonunion and delayed union were not found up to the latest follow-up at 12 months postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: Players and watchers of golf must take precautionary measures before striking a golf ball. It is advisable that players watching a golfer hitting a golf ball should stand a long way behind or in front of the golfer striking the golf ball. The danger of such injury is on the rise because more and more people are enjoying golf nowadays. Warning players of such dangers is one preventive measure to avoid such injuries in the future.