Soccer, or association football, is inarguably, the world’s number one sport with over 3.5 billion fans across the globe. It’s ninety minutes of pure adrenaline, with players moving at breakneck speeds, making strategic tackles and dribbling the ball using skillful legwork. As is expected of all contact sports, the players are exposed to the risk of soft tissue injury and fractures, especially in the lower extremities.

In 2008, when playing for Arsenal against Birmingham city, striker Eduardo Da Silva suffered a catastrophic leg fracture, following a tackle by defender Martin Taylor. Cited as one of the worst football injuries in the world, there was little hope for Eduardo’s career.

Only two years after Eduardo’s injury, Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsey suffered a horrific double leg break when tackled by Stoke City’s Ryan Shawcross. In recent times, Luke Shaw, Manchester United and England defender, had a similar injury. Multiple breaks in the tibia and fibula put him out of action and affected the fate of the club drastically.

Such instances of game-changing injuries are not uncommon in soccer. However, in all of the aforementioned examples, the players were up and running; back on the field in less than a year. Modern medicine or miracle?

There is perhaps no better indication of the living, responsive nature of bones than the fact that they heal themselves. Bones are said to be genetically programmed to repair after a fracture.
However, it was obvious, even to the early man, that there can be no relative movement between broken parts. In ancient cultures, the use of primitive splints, such as a piece of bark or wood, is documented. Some even used resin or waxes to harden bandages and used them for stabilization.

Plaster of Paris casts, perhaps the best known treatment for fractures, were introduced in Europe in the 19th century. Plaster of Paris casts continue to be used to the present day, but they have several drawbacks. They are quite unwieldy and known to cause skin complications.

In modern times, doctors have developed alternative and more effective lines of treatment.