Shoulder pain in the adolescent athlete: a multidisciplinary diagnostic approach from the medical, surgical, and imaging perspectives

Abstract

This article is a compilation work authored by a pediatric radiologist, primary care pediatric sports medicine physician and pediatric orthopedic surgeon with the goal of providing a simplified diagnostic approach to the adolescent athlete presenting with shoulder pain. The spectrum of complex diagnoses often confused by innumerable radiologic acronyms can be distilled into common recognizable injury patterns. Once the physiology leading to the injury pattern is understood, the pediatric radiologist can perform a more focused imaging approach and provide a more meaningful interpretation to the referring orthopedic specialist.