Shoulder Injuries in the Skeletally Immature Athlete

Summary: The skeletally immature athlete differs from the adult because of unique aspects of bony and soft tissue anatomic development. Open physis, more elastic bones, and hyperlaxity of the shoulder joint all determine the types of injuries that these young athletes may develop. In addition to traumatic instability, voluntary instability may be quite common. Overuse injuries are often due to overtraining and inappropriate technique stressing an immature shoulder joint. Other causes of shoulder pain include benign tumors, stress fractures, scapulothoracic bursitis, distal clavicle osteolysis, nerve injuries, osteochondritis dessicans, and malignant tumors.