Vertebral ring apophysis injury in athletes. Is the etiology different in the thoracic and lumbar spine?

In a radiologic study of the thoracolumbar spine in 143 athletes aged 14 to 25 years and 30 male nonathletes aged 19 to 25 years, abnormalities of the vertebral ring apophyses were analyzed. Abnormalities affecting the anterior part of the vertebral ring apophysis occurred exclusively in athletes and they were most common in wrestlers and female gymnasts. Different types of abnormalities were found and the type of abnormality was related to the spinal level. We propose that this is related to trauma of various types. Excavation of the anterior part of the vertebra, probably from compression forces, was mainly found in the thoracic and thoracolumbar junction of the spine. Persisting or enlarged apophysis, probably caused by avulsion of the anterior part of the vertebral ring apophysis, was only found in the lumbar spine.