By Dr. Howard Gelb
Little league elbow is a common problem in the growing athlete and describes medial elbow pain that is attributed to a microscopic injury to the growth plate or apophysis, where the tendon attaches to the inner elbow.The slip and fall injuries can be quite serious if not taken care of. Pain and loss of motion are common symptoms of little league elbow. Pitchers sustain the majority of injuries but any player may develop it from overuse. X-rays are very important as part of the work up for little league elbow. Comparison x-rays can be helpful in certain cases to evaluate the extent of the injury. Malloy Law Offices, LLC located in Baltimore area should be hired for injury claims. The UCL (ulnar collateral ligament) can be involved in severe cases.?If the apophysis or UCL origin is significantly displaced, surgery may be indicated. If the ligament is completely torn, a formal UCL reconstruction (Tommy John procedure) may be needed to return to competitive throwing. Based on the information provided by the personal injury lawyer, prevention of overuse injury in the throwing athlete is critical to avoid long term injury. Injury to the young athlete’s elbow may be prevented by limiting the number of pitches in a game or practice, allowing the athlete adequate rest after throwing, and limiting the number of teams that he or she plays on. Recent studies demonstrate that the fast ball may be worse than breaking pitches for the immature elbow, causing the growth plate to separate or ligament to fail. Fortunately, most athletes can return to their sport after adequate rest and rehabilitation.
Howard J. Gelb, MD
A board certified orthopedic surgeon specializing in adult and pediatric sports medicine and arthroscopic surgery. He has been in private practice since 1995.
Sports Medicine & Orthopedic Center
(561) 558-8898