Elbow problems associated with sports injuries in children

Elbow problems associated with sports injuries may result from overuse, micro- or macrotraumas. Overuse injuries are frequent and are often closely related to mechanical characteristics of sports. Sports-r e l a t e d elbow injuries mainly occur in sports involving throwing such as baseball and javelin throwing, which requir e forced valgus and extension of the elbow, predisposing it to overuse injuries. Overuse injuries in child athletes ar e generally defined as Little League elbow, the most com - mon of which are medial epicondyle apophysitis, osteo - chondritis dissecans of the capitellum, radial head defor - mation, flexion contractures, and injuries to the olecra - non. Most of these injuries can be healed without or with minimal sequelae by early diagnosis and proper treat - ment. Therefore, mechanisms of, and risk factors for, elbow problems encountered in pediatric athletes should be well-understood in order to avoid the risks for a per - manent deformity in the childÕs anatomy.