Rotator cuff injuries in adolescent athletes

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Sports Medicine
• Pediatric Sports Injuries

Background:

• Rotator cuff injuries in young athletes are often attributed to overuse and internal impingement.
• Overhead athletes with increased range of motion and instability are particularly susceptible to undersurface rotator cuff tears.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the patterns and outcomes of rotator cuff injuries in young athletes.
• To determine the role of acute trauma versus overuse in adolescent rotator cuff tears.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of seven adolescent patients with rotator cuff injuries.
• Analysis of sport, trauma history, diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes.

Main Results:

• Diverse injury patterns observed, including subscapularis tears and tuberosity avulsions.
• Acute trauma was recalled by only half of the patients.
• Six of seven patients returned to their preinjury sport level after surgical repair or rehabilitation.

Conclusions:

• Acute trauma may be a significant cause of rotator cuff injuries in young athletes.
• Adolescent athletes with rotator cuff tears demonstrate a high rate of return to sport after treatment.
• Rotator cuff injuries should be considered in skeletally immature athletes, with a favorable prognosis when identified and treated.