Overuse Injury to Proximal Phalanx in Throwing Athlete (Little Leaguer's Finger): A Case Report.

ABSTRACT: The young, overhead throwing athlete is prone to overuse injuries because of their variable skeletal maturity and often improper technique. An overuse injury to the digit(s) in the overhead throwing athlete, Little Leaguer's Finger, has never been discussed in the literature to our knowledge. We present a case of a 14-year-old man with atraumatic pain, swelling, and edema to his dominant pitching index finger after throwing greater than 90 pitches in one setting. Initial workup of the patient, including an MRI, ruled out an infectious process, and it was determined that there was a stress epiphysitis within the proximal phalanx of the digit. Symptoms within the digit resolved given time, rest, and cessation of throwing activities. The purpose of this report was to stress the importance of establishing the etiology of finger pain in the throwing athlete and to describe a previously unreported overuse injury, Little Leaguer's Finger.

Spontaneous Reduction of Incarcerated Medial Epicondyle Fragment: A Report of 3 Cases and Review of the Literature.

CASE: Three cases of incarcerated medial epicondyle fracture with spontaneous reduction without operative manipulation are presented. Two patients were treated conservatively, and one treated surgically, all with good clinical outcomes. CONCLUSION: Elbow dislocation is a common pediatric injury. Over half have an associated medial epicondyle fracture, which can become incarcerated in the joint. Elbow dislocation with intra-articular incarceration of the medial epicondyle has historically been an indication for prompt surgical intervention. These cases suggest good outcomes with spontaneous reduction are possible without operative intervention, opening opportunities for further research into absolute indications for surgery.

Digital Chondrolysis and Epiphysiolysis Associated With Snakebite: A Report of 2 Cases.

BACKGROUND: Here, we present 2 cases of the unusual sequelae of a venomous bite to the finger in children resulting in chondrolysis and physeal loss. There have been few isolated case reports documenting this phenomenon. Currently, there is no preventative treatment, and patients should be warned of this possible complication of envenomation. METHODS: Two patients with chondrolysis and physeal loss have been seen in our practice. RESULTS: Chondrolysis and epiphysiolysis occurred in 2 patients. One patient was treated with proximal interphalangeal joint fusion and one is being managed conservatively. CONCLUSION: The toxic action of snake venom may cause loss of the growth plate and chondrolysis in the pediatric hand. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV.