We report a case series of unilateral Salter-Harris IV fractures of the proximal radial heads in young female gymnasts. To date, there are no previous reports of such injuries in gymnastics. In all 3 athletes, no significant injury preceded presentation or diagnosis. Radiographs and magnetic resonance imaging showed fractures and associated bone marrow edema of the proximal radial head, respectively. All but 1 was treated nonoperatively with success. Given the lack of acute trauma, lack of large effusion, and good range of motion at presentation, these injuries are believed to be chronic in nature and related to overuse. This case series highlights the need for routine surveillance and the limiting of upper extremity weight bearing when possible in gymnasts.

We examined the effect of a noncontact, subsymptom exacerbation early exercise recommendation on recovery from sports-related concussion. Retrospective analysis of adolescents, 10-17 years old, with symptomatic concussion, within 30 days of injury was performed. Time to recovery was measured between the early exercise group and a comparison group. A total of 187 patients studied—112 in the exercise group and 75 in the comparison group; 55% were male (n = 103). The exercise group had a significantly longer duration of concussion symptoms (18.5 days vs 14, P = .002), although both groups recovered within the expected time to recovery for concussion. When analyzed separately, males experienced longer time to recovery from injury (19 days vs 14, P = .003), than females, respectively (18 days vs 14.5, P = .18). Recommendation of early exercise resulted in significantly longer recovery from concussion in male adolescents but had no significant effect in female adolescents; both groups recovered within the expected time frame.

No abstract