Elbow Injuries in the Adolescent Thrower

AbstractPurpose of ReviewWith an increasing rate of adolescent elbow injuries, especially in throwing athletes, the purpose of this review is to investigate the current literature regarding the diagnosis, treatment, and non-operative and operative outcomes of medial epicondyle fractures, ulnar collateral ligament repair, osteochondritis dissecans of the elbow, and olecranon stress fractures.Recent FindingsAcceptable outcomes with both non-operative and operative treatments of medial epicondyle fractures have been reported, with surgical indications continuing to evolve. Unstable osteochondritis dissecans lesions, especially in patients with closed growth plates, require operative fixation, and emerging open and arthroscopic techniques including lesion debridement, marrow stimulation, autograft transfer, and allograft transplantation are described with good outcomes. Ulnar collateral repair has emerged as an exciting treatment option for an avulsion of either end of the ligament in young throwing athletes, with faster rehabilitation times than traditional ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction. Olecranon stress fractures are increasing in prevalence, and when a non-operative treatment course is unsuccessful, athletes have a high return-to-play rate after percutaneous cannulated screw placement.SummaryWith proper indications, non-operative and operative treatment modalities are reported with a high return-to-play and acceptable clinical outcomes for common elbow injuries, inc...
Source: Current Reviews in Musculoskeletal Medicine - Category: Orthopaedics Source Type: research