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Back injuries in the pediatric athlete.
Kelly M Waicus1, Bryan W Smith
1Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, CB# 7470, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7470, USA.
Current Sports Medicine Reports
|July 2, 2003
Summary
Pediatric athletes with back pain often have underlying pathologic conditions, requiring prompt diagnosis. Early evaluation is crucial for identifying causes like spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis in young athletes.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedics
- Sports Medicine
- Pediatric Sports Medicine
Background:
- Back pain in pediatric and adolescent athletes frequently indicates a pathologic cause, unlike in adults.
- A high index of suspicion is necessary for clinicians managing young athletes with back pain.
Purpose of the Study:
- To emphasize the importance of prompt diagnostic evaluation for back pain in pediatric and adolescent athletes.
- To outline common sports-related and non-activity-related causes of back pain in this population.
Main Methods:
- Review of common differential diagnoses for pediatric and adolescent athlete back pain.
- Emphasis on the role of history and physical examination in guiding diagnostic studies.
- Consideration of imaging modalities and radiologist expertise.
Main Results:
- Pathologic causes are more common in young athletes than adults.
- Key differential diagnoses include disc-related pain, Scheuermann's kyphosis, spondylolysis, and spondylolisthesis.
- Non-activity-related conditions like discitis and spinal tumors must also be considered.
Conclusions:
- Prompt diagnostic evaluation is essential for pediatric and adolescent athletes with back pain.
- Age and sport-specific factors influence treatment planning.
- Further research is needed for definitive diagnosis and treatment of spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis.