Pediatric Orthopedics
We Treat the Following Issues:
Pediatric Orthopedics
- Pediatric ACL reconstruction
- Pediatric Fractures
- Little Leaguer’s Shoulder (Physeal Injury of the Proximal Humerus)
- Osteochondritis Dissecans
- Osgood Schlatter’s Disease (Tibial Tubercle Apophysitis)
- Sinding-Larsen-Johansson Syndrome
- Shoulder Instability
- Shoulder Separations
- Growth Plate Injuries (Physeal Fractures)
- Ligament injuries in the growing athlete
- Discoid Meniscus
- Muscle tears/sprains
- Tendonitis
- Supracondylar elbow fractures
Caring for young athletes
Dr. Dold treats children and teens who play football, soccer, baseball, softball, basketball, volleyball, gymnastics and other sports. A growing skeleton changes both the injury and the treatment, so his plans account for the growth plates, the athlete’s age and the season ahead, and he works with parents, coaches and athletic trainers on a safe return to play.
ACL tears in kids and teens
ACL tears are no longer rare in younger athletes. In children whose growth plates are still open, a systematic review found that delaying or avoiding reconstruction was associated with poor outcomes and further damage to the meniscus and cartilage, while surgical stabilization gave good knee stability.1 Surgery in a growing knee uses techniques that protect the growth plates, and a review of the research found growth disturbance after pediatric ACL reconstruction was uncommon, at about 2.6%.2 Neuromuscular warm-up and training programs lower the risk of ACL injury in the first place.3 See ACL tears.
Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD)
OCD affects an area of bone and the cartilage above it, most often in the knee, and is seen in active children and teens. Stable lesions in younger patients often heal with activity changes and time,4 while unstable lesions or those that do not heal may need surgery. See OCD and cartilage injuries.
Throwing athletes
In youth baseball pitchers, arm fatigue and high pitch counts were linked to shoulder and elbow pain.5 Following pitch count and rest guidelines, and taking time away from throwing each year, helps protect growing arms. Pain at the top of the arm (Little Leaguer’s shoulder) or on the inside of the elbow should be checked. See Little Leaguer’s shoulder.
Growth plate pain and fractures
Pain below the kneecap (Osgood-Schlatter disease) or at the back of the heel (Sever’s disease) is common during growth spurts and usually settles with rest, stretching and time. Fractures near a growth plate need careful assessment, because the right treatment depends on the type of fracture and how much growing is left.
Research cited
- Vavken P, Murray MM. Treating anterior cruciate ligament tears in skeletally immature patients. Arthroscopy. 2011;27(5):704-716. PubMed
- Longo UG, Ciuffreda M, Casciaro C, et al. Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction in skeletally immature patients: a systematic review. Bone Joint J. 2017;99-B(8):1053-1060. PubMed
- Webster KE, Hewett TE. Meta-analysis of meta-analyses of anterior cruciate ligament injury reduction training programs. J Orthop Res. 2018;36(10):2696-2708. PubMed
- Wall EJ, Vourazeris J, Myer GD, et al. The healing potential of stable juvenile osteochondritis dissecans knee lesions. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2008;90(12):2655-2664. PubMed
- Lyman S, Fleisig GS, Waterbor JW, et al. Longitudinal study of elbow and shoulder pain in youth baseball pitchers. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2001;33(11):1803-1810. PubMed
This page is general information, not medical advice for your situation. Individual results vary.
Sports injuries in children and teenagers
Young athletes are not just small adults. Their bones are still growing, and the growth plates near the ends of the bones are often the weakest point, so the same fall or twist can cause a different injury in a 12-year-old than in an adult. Dr. Andrew Dold, a board-certified, fellowship-trained sports medicine surgeon in Frisco, Texas, evaluates and treats sports injuries and fractures in children and teens, and works with parents, coaches and athletic trainers on a safe return to play.
Learn more about common conditions
When to have a young athlete seen
- Pain that lasts more than a week or two, or that keeps them out of practice
- Swelling, a pop, or a joint that gives way or locks
- Pain over a growth plate or bone after a fall
- A limp, or pain at night
