ELBOW INJURIES IN ATHLETES - A REVIEW

Elbow injuries are becoming more common as increasing numbers of peopl e participate in throwing and racquet sports. The understanding and tr eatment of elbow injuries is becoming more sophisticated in conjunctio n with better noninvasive and invasive diagnostic techniques. The majo rity of injuries to the elbow in the athlete are chronic, overuse inju ries. These injuries are the result of repetitive intrinsic or extrins ic overload, or both, resulting in microrupture of soft tissue such as ligament or tendon. In children, apophyses, being the weakest link in the immature musculoskeletal system, are susceptible to stress injuri es. Elbow injuries are most commonly caused by valgus stress, from thr owing or axial compression, resulting in increased force absorbed by t he medial elbow. With repetitive valgus stress, patients may develop c hondromalacia, loose bodies in the posterior or lateral compartments, injury to the ulnar collateral ligament, myotendinous injury to the fl exor-pronator muscle group, osteochondritis dissecans, or ulnar neurit is. The purpose of this paper is to (1) define the significance of elb ow injuries in athletics, (2) review the anatomy and biomechanics of t he elbow, and (3) discuss the prevention and treatment of elbow injuri es.