The thrower's elbow

• Published in: The Orthopedic clinics of North America Vol. 45; no. 3; p. 355
• Main Authors: Patel, Ronak M, Lynch, T Sean, Amin, Nirav H, Calabrese, Gary, Gryzlo, Stephen M, Schickendantz, Mark S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.07.2014
• Subjects: Athletic Injuries - diagnosis; Athletic Injuries - surgery; Athletic Injuries - therapy; Biomechanical Phenomena; Collateral Ligaments - anatomy & histology; Collateral Ligaments - injuries; Elbow Joint - anatomy & histology; Elbow Joint - injuries; Elbow Joint - physiopathology; Fractures, Stress - diagnosis; Fractures, Stress - therapy; Humans; Ligaments, Articular - injuries; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Medical History Taking; Movement - physiology; Olecranon Process - injuries; Physical Examination; Pronation; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures; Stress, Mechanical; Ulnar Neuropathies - diagnosis; Ulnar Neuropathies - etiology; Ulnar Neuropathies - physiopathology; Tommy John; Capitellar OCD; Olecranon impingement; Overhead throwing athlete; Ulnar subluxation; Ulnar collateral ligament
• ISSN: 1558-1373
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ocl.2014.03.007

Overhead throwing activities expose the elbow to tremendous valgus stress, making athletes vulnerable to a specific constellation of injuries. Although baseball players, in particular pitchers, are the athletes affected most commonly, overhead throwing athletes in football, volleyball, tennis, and javelin tossing also are affected. The purpose of this review is to review the anatomy, biomechanics, pathophysiology, and treatment of elbow disorders related to overhead throwing athletes. Although focus is on management of ulnar collateral ligament injuries, all common pathologies are discussed.