As more children play sports at a younger age and on a year-round basis, they are more susceptible to overuse injuries. Many of these conditions can be prevented or treated with proper training and stretching. Children are also subject to unique injuries at the growth plate, where tissue develops near the ends of long bones in growing children and adolescents.
In addition to sports-related injuries, our pediatric orthopedic specialists are well-versed in treating a wide range of other musculoskeletal issues facing children and adolescents, including these frequently seen conditions:
Clubfoot,
which is a deformity of the foot that is present at birth, resulting in one or both feet turning inward.
Developmental dysplasia of the hip,
which occurs when the ball and socket of the hip don’t form normally, causing an improper fit. When detected at birth, it can usually be corrected without surgery. If it goes undetected during infancy or childhood, this disorder can cause pain in the groin, or the side or back of the hip that may increase with frequency and intensity over time. It can also lead to early onset osteoarthritis.
Dislocations,
which occur when extreme force is applied to a joint, such as from a fall or a hit to the body while playing a contact sport. A dislocation can cause pain, swelling, weakness and difficulty moving the injured part. In order for your child’s joint to heal, the bones must be put back into their proper position.
Fractures or breaks in the bone,
which are caused by injuries or diseases such as osteoporosis or cancer. Another type is a stress fracture caused by overuse or repetitive motion.
Ligament tears,
which include tears of the four main ligaments in the knee: anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), medial collateral ligament (MCL) and lateral collateral ligament (LCL).
Meniscus injuries or tears,
which are among the most common knee injuries. Tears may occur when playing sports, after years of wear and tear, or simply from an awkward movement, resulting in pain, stiffness, swelling, catching or locking of the knee, and limited range of motion.
Sprains and strains,
which are common in people of all ages. Sprains occur when ligaments stretch beyond their limits and tear. A strain may be an overstretched muscle or tendon, or it could be a partial or complete tear in both the muscle and tendon.