Imaging pediatric sports injuries: upper extremity

Abstract

With increasing youth participation in organized sports, more injuries in this age group are being treated by primary care and sports medicine physicians. Overuse injuries are much more common now than in past decades, with Little League shoulder, Little League elbow, and gymnast wrist being particular concerns. Rotator cuff tears and glenoid labral injuries, once thought to be rare in this age group, are also more common now. Osteochondritis dissecans of the elbow is relatively common and typically fares poorly without surgery. Wrist abnormalities that occur nowadays include triangular fibrocartilage tears. Tendonitis, which is now observed frequently in clinical practice in this age group, rarely requires imaging.