J Korean Orthop Assoc.  2010 Feb;45(1):73-77. 10.4055/jkoa.2010.45.1.73.

Little Leaguer Shoulder with Contralateral Thrower's Fracture of the Humerus in Adolescent Baseball Pitchers

• Kang S
• Kim JP
• Hwang CS
• Chung PH
• Kim YS
• Kim YG

• KMID: 2185597
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4055/jkoa.2010.45.1.73

Abstract

Baseball-related injuries are on the rise due to its increasing popurity as an international sports. Among them, Little League Shoulder is characterized by pain when pitching and is associated with specific roentgenographic changes in adolescent baseball pitchers. Ball thrower's fracture is defined as a fracture of the humeral diaphysis resulting from overhead throwing without any external contact but it is rare in adolescents. We report a case of Little League Shoulder with a contralateral thrower's fracture of the humeral shaft related to baseball pitching in an ambidextrous adolescent baseball pitcher with a review of the relevant literature.

Keyword

humerus; epiphysiolysis; little league shoulder; thrower's fracture; baseball

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Baseball
Diaphyses
Epiphyses, Slipped
Humans
Humerus
Shoulder
Sports

Figure

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  Figure 1 Initial both shoulder AP radiograph demonstrates widening of physis of left proximal humerus compared to right side (arrow).

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  Figure 2 Left shoulder MRI shows widening of physis in T1WI and abnormal high signal intensity of anterolateral aspect of metaphysis of proximal humerus in T2WI.

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  Figure 3 Right humerus X-ray shows oblique fracture of humeral shaft with a medial butterfly fragment.

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  Figure 4 1 year follow up X-ray of right humerus reveals complete union of fracture and remodeling.

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  Figure 5 Final both shoulder radiograph shows normal appearance of physis of left proximal humerus.

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