Hand and Wrist Injuries in the Pediatric Athlete

This article examines the most common problematic hand and wrist injuries in the pediatric athlete. Hand and wrist injuries in the growing skeleton pose a different diagnostic and therapeutic challenge than in the mature skeleton. Ligaments are stronger than bone, and unossified cartilaginous sections of the skeleton are yet more susceptible to injury than bone. Although remodeling can correct for even moderate deformities if sufficient growth potential exists, remodeling cannot return the child to normal anatomy in many cases. Remodeling depends on intact periosteum, a nearby growing physis, and competent ligaments to direct remodeling via Hueter-Volkmann and Wolff's laws.