Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy and the Handstand-Position Radiography for Proximal Humeral Epiphysiolysis in Elite Gymnasts: A Report of Two Cases

Overview

Journal Cureus

Specialty Biomedical Engineering

Date 2024 Jun 17

PMID 38883126

Authors

Toru Omodani

Norimasa Takahashi

Kenji Takahashi

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

We report two cases of proximal humeral epiphysiolysis in elite gymnasts. Both patients presented with shoulder pain during weight-bearing movements. The patient in case 1, treated with extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT), exhibited rapid bone repair and pain relief, allowing an early return to competition. In the case 2 patient, humeral shortening was identified. Handstand-position radiography revealed compensatory scapular movements, negating the need for surgical intervention. These findings highlight ESWT's potential in promoting bone repair and the utility of handstand-position radiography in assessing humeral length. Both methods provide innovative treatment approaches for proximal humeral epiphysiolysis in gymnasts.

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