Innovative Dynamic Ultrasound Diagnosis of First Rib Stress Fracture in an Adolescent Athlete—A Case Report

Yonghyun Yoon, King Hei Stanley Lam, Chanwool Park, Jaeyoung Lee, Jangkeun Kye, Hyeeun Kim, Seonghwan Kim, Junhan Kang, Anwar Suhaimi, Teinny Suryadi, Daniel Chiung-Jui Su, Kenneth Dean Reeves and Stephen Cavallino

Diagnostics 2025, 15(19), 2437

Abstract

Background: First rib stress fractures (FRSFs) are exceptionally rare in skeletally immature athletes and are frequently overlooked because their symptoms mimic more common scapular conditions such as scapular dyskinesis or thoracic outlet syndrome. Early and accurate identification is critical to avoid delayed union, prolonged disability, and misdirected management.

Case Presentation: We report a 12-year-old elite baseball pitcher with progressive scapular winging and audible snapping during pitching. Unlike typical posterior-type fractures near the costotransverse joint, imaging revealed a cortical discontinuity precisely at the serratus anterior enthesis, consistent with repetitive traction enthesopathy. High-resolution musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSK-US) identified cortical disruption with periosteal edema, and dynamic ultrasound reproduced the patient’s snapping and pain in real time, establishing a direct clinical–imaging correlation. Conservative three-phase rehabilitation (scapular stabilization, serratus anterior activation, and structured return-to-throwing) led to complete union and pain-free return to sport within 12 weeks.

Discussion: This case highlights the superior diagnostic efficacy of MSK-US for FRSFs in adolescents. The posterior scanning approach facilitated bilateral comparison and growth plate assessment. Dynamic examination provided a functional correlation beyond static imaging, identifying a novel snapping mechanism. This underscores the value of MSK-US in visualizing not just anatomy but also pathophysiology.

Conclusions: This is among the youngest documented cases of first rib stress fracture diagnosed with dynamic ultrasound. Its novelty lies in the following: (1) occurrence at the serratus anterior enthesis, (2) reproduction of snapping during provocative maneuvers, and (3) expansion of the etiological spectrum of scapular dyskinesis to include rib pathology. Dynamic ultrasound should be considered a frontline modality for adolescent throwers with unexplained periscapular pain.

Keywords: ultrasound diagnosis; first rib stress fracture; adolescent athletes; overhead throwing injury; scapular winging; dynamic ultrasound; enthesopathy

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