Growing Bodies and Bone Injuries: What to Know

As children grow and engage in more activities, some injuries become unavoidable. Beyond the typical bumps and bruises, kids can sometimes sustain more serious orthopedic injuries, especially when they start participating in sports.

“A large majority of pediatric orthopedic injuries are sports-related,” says Jennifer Horawski, M.D., a sports medicine physician with the University of Miami Health System.

“Studies estimate that 30% to 50% of all pediatric orthopedic injuries are linked to sports with contact sports like football, basketball and soccer contributing to acute injuries, and gymnastics, running and baseball leading to overuse injuries.”

What are the most common orthopedic injuries in kids?

Dr. Horawski sees many orthopedic injuries in her young patients, but the most common ones fall into the following categories:

• Growth plate injuries. When kids are growing, the ends of the bones are comprised of rubbery cartilage, says the Nemours Foundation. They don’t turn into solid bone until they’ve completed the growth process. “Because children’s bones are still developing, these injuries require special attention,” says Dr. Horawski.

• Osteochondritis dissecans. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), this condition occurs in the joints when bone separates from the surrounding region due to a lack of blood. This causes the bone to loosen and crack. “It’s common in young athletes who participate in repetitive, high-impact sports,” says Dr. Horawski.

• Overuse injuries. As the name suggests, this injury is due to repeating the same motion repeatedly. Little League elbow, Osgood-Schlatter disease, Sever’s disease and stress fractures all qualify as overuse injuries. The Mayo Clinic says that these injuries are becoming more common as children specialize in one sport and play it year-round.

“There’s evidence that early sports specialization increases the risk of overuse injuries and even some acute injuries due to repetitive stress on specific body parts,” says Dr. Horawski. “Kids who play multiple sports tend to have more balanced musculoskeletal development, whereas those who specialize early are at higher risk for stress fractures, tendinitis, and joint injuries.”

Growing bodies need specialized orthopaedic care.

Most kids with overuse injuries can return to the activities they love. However, treatment must resolve the injury without hindering future growth.

“The biggest concern when treating pediatric athletes is protecting the growth plate to prevent long-term abnormalities,” says Dr. Horawski. “As with all my patients, the most important part is a gradual return to sport to prevent reinjury.”

The treatment and recovery process can vary based on the injury. In general, fractures and overuse injuries may require 4-12 weeks, where more serious issues like ligament tears may require up to 9 months. “During the initial treatment phase, we recommend that patients rest from their sport for approximately 6-8 weeks,” says Dr. Horawski. “During that time, I recommend low-impact activities or activities that don’t utilize the injured limb.”

Can you prevent orthopedic injuries?

Dr. Harowski says that kids, as well as their parents, coaches and other adult mentors, can employ several strategies to reduce the incidence of these injuries in the first place.

“The key to reducing pediatric sports injuries is prevention — ensuring proper biomechanics, emphasizing cross-training, limiting year-round specialization and promoting strength and flexibility programs,” she says.

“Parents and coaches should encourage rest and recovery, as young athletes often push through pain, leading to chronic issues.”

Wyatt Myers is a contributor for UHealth’s news service.

Tags: Dr. Jennifer Horawski, injury prevention, Overuse injuries in young athletes, Sports Medicine Institute, Youth orthopedic care