Juvenile and adolescent elbow injuries in sports

Elbow injuries in skeletally immature athletes continue to increase as juvenile and adolescent athletes participate in organized athletics at earlier ages and with greater intensity. Specialization in specific sports at younger ages has led to an increase in injuries related to repetitive microtrauma. As a result, the spectrum of injuries commonly seen in skeletally immature athletes has increased at a time when long-term outcomes and less invasive interventions with biologic principles are gaining greater attention. Optimal treatment of these injuries requires a knowledge of the complex developmental and radiographic anatomy, the pathophysiology and natural history, and the indications and expected outcomes for conservative and operative management.