Wrist Injury in Juvenile Gymnasts

Lee, Choong Gil; Kwon, Jin Woo; Park, Jae Hyum; Lee, Sang Hoon; Kim, Wan Eup; Shin, Eun Sik

Abstract

In the adolescent gymnasts, recent studios have shown that wrist is particularly vulnerable to chronic stress. In the immature skeleton, growth plate is especially vulnerable to acute or chronic trauma since the joint capsule and ligamentous structures are strong. The purpose of this study is to report the frequency, finding of radiologic abnormalities and the type of sports to cause wrist pain. The authors examined 26 adolescent gymnasts, 20 males and 6 females. The age range was 11 years 10 months to 17 years 5 months for males and 11 years 9 months to 34 years 4 months for females. The results were as follows; 1. The radiologic abnormalities were found in 23 cases(88%), 19 males and 4 females. 2. Wrist pain was most frequently csused by pommel horse exercise in males and by floor exercise in females. 3. Among 23 cases, 18 showed widening of distal radial growth plates and irregularities of the margins of the growth plate(15 cases were bilateral). Widening of distal ulna growth plates were combineti in six cases, ulna styloid process fracture in 3 cases and radial styloid process fracture in 1 case. 4. Among 23 cases, 5 cases showed widening of distal radial metaphysis and increased ulnar tilting.