Jp. Difiori et al., DISTAL RADIAL GROWTH-PLATE INJURY AND POSITIVE ULNAR VARIANCE IN NONELITE GYMNASTS, American journal of sports medicine, 25(6), 1997, pp. 763-768
To assess the prevalence of stress injury to the distal radial growth
plate and of positive ulnar variance in a nonelite gymnast population,
we administered a radiographic survey and questionnaire to 44 skeleta
lly immature nonelite gymnasts (27 girls and 17 boys). The subjects tr
ained an average of 11.9 hours per week. Radiographic findings consist
ent with stress injury of the distal radial physis were found in 25% (
11 of 44) of participants. Ulnar variance was found to be more positiv
e in the gymnasts when compared with age-predicted norms. An average s
ide-to-side difference in ulnar variance of 0.9 mm was observed. Radio
graphic findings of stress injury to the growth plate and the amount o
f ulnar variance were not associated with age, sex, training intensity
, wrist pain, height, or weight. There was also no significant relatio
nship between ulnar variance and radiographic findings. The mean ulnar
variance in nonelite gymnasts was between that measured for elite gym
nasts and nongymnasts. These results indicate that stress injury of th
e distal radial growth plate occurs in a significant percentage of non
-elite gymnasts. It also appears that ulnar variance is more positive
than would otherwise be predicted, suggesting growth inhibition of the
distal radius, a growth stimulation of the ulna, or a combination of
both.