Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Clipless Pedal risks

Can you see the fracture?
Here's a case report about a Hip fracture from a guy unable to unclip fast enough. Who hasn't this happened to?
Also, they say as far as they know that was the first case. I saw a lady with the same thing just this past Spring. She was new and went to unclip. Didn't. And broke her hip. I should have wrote it up and been the first case.

Proximal Femoral Fracture in a Man Resulting From Modern Clipless Pedals

A Case Report

James Parker; Neil Patel; Ganesh Devarajan
Posted: 08/29/2011; J Med Case Reports. 2011;5 © 2011 BioMed Central, Ltd.






Abstract Introduction The use of clipless pedals amongst recreational cyclists has become increasingly popular in recent years. We describe a hip fracture, that was sustained due to inadequate set up of such pedals. To the best of our knowledge, this has only been described once before, and this was in the non-English language medical literature.(Maybe the English know how to use the clipless pedals better?)
Case Report A 38-year-old Caucasian man who was a club cyclist sustained a displaced intracapsular fracture of the hip whilst cycling. As a direct result of the incorrect set-up (Do I hear "Lawsuit"?) of his clipless pedals he was unable to release his feet whilst slowing to a halt (In the main body of the article it said he slipped on some ice- what did he expect?). This resulted in a loss of balance and subsequent fall with a direct impact onto his left hip. The resulting fracture was managed successfully with early closed reduction and fixation. At six month review he was walking unaided without pain but, as yet, has been unable to return to cycling.
Conclusion This case highlights the dangers of clipless pedals even in experienced cyclists, and underlines the importance of proper information for their correct setup to minimise the risk of potentially serious injuries, especially in the region of the hip.

1 comment:

  1. Someone should have recommended he practice unclipping in soft grass. And how are they set-up improperly? Obviously not this was not written by a cyclist. You would have done a much better job.

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