Shoulder Pain in a Pediatric Throwing Athlete

Pediatric avulsion fractures most commonly occur at sites of secondary ossification and are often associated with chronic stress from repetitive movements. Because of a variety of risk factors, youth athletes place higher stress on ossification centers, and their activities may predispose them to in...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inCurēus (Palo Alto, CA) Vol. 16; no. 2; p. e55002
Main Authors Welsh, Clayton R, Foley Davelaar, Cassidy M
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States Cureus Inc 26.02.2024
Cureus
Subjects
Athletes
Cartilage
Fractures
Mechanics
Orthopedics
Pain
Pediatrics
Range of motion
Shoulder
Softball
Sports injuries
Sports Medicine
Teenagers
distal acromion
pediatric orthopedics
adolescent athlete
shoulder pain
avulsion fracture
pediatric patients
pediatric sports medicine
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Summary:Pediatric avulsion fractures most commonly occur at sites of secondary ossification and are often associated with chronic stress from repetitive movements. Because of a variety of risk factors, youth athletes place higher stress on ossification centers, and their activities may predispose them to injury. This case report describes a 12-year-old female softball player who presented with pain at the distal acromion, worsened by her overhead throwing motion. Further questioning revealed improper throwing mechanics placing extenuated stress on the shoulder. Plain radiograph imaging showed an avulsion fracture of the distal acromion; conservative management with decreased mobilization and cessation of activity was recommended. Reimaging four weeks later revealed a bone-on-bone healing, and the patient was gradually allowed to return to function. This report's discussion details the unusual location for a common injury, the mechanism of injury, an association of throwing mechanics with a shoulder injury, and recommended treatment strategies for pediatric avulsion fractures.
ISSN:2168-8184
2168-8184
DOI:10.7759/cureus.55002