Is Osgood-Schlatter’s associated with an increased risk of Pars Fracture? A retrospective exploratory study of male academy football players  

This retrospective exploratory cohort study investigated the association between Osgood-Schlatter disease (OSD) and Pars Interarticularis fractures in elite male academy footballers. Among 341 players, those with a history of OSD were over 19 times more likely to sustain a Pars fracture (RR: 19.27). Findings suggest OSD may act as a clinically observable risk marker for future spinal pathology. Early identification and management of OSD could help identify those at risk of future Pars injuries and may therefore help optimise player health and availability. Further prospective research is warranted to explore underlying biomechanical mechanisms.