Conference: The Most Frequent Trauma in Baseball
Agenda: Information sharing with Parents of future baseball players
Speaker: Canadian Drugstore
Location: New-York
Date: 09.09.2019
Abstracts from the Conference: Elbow Injuries when Throwing
Flexor tendonitis
Repeated throws can lead to irritation and inflammation of the flexor/pronator muscle tendons, in the area of attachment to the humerus from the inside of the elbow joint. Athletes in such cases notice pain on the inside of the elbow when throwing. If tendonitis is pronounced, the pain will also be noted during rest.
Damage to the ulnar collateral ligament
The ulnar collateral ligament is most often damaged while throwing. Ulnar collateral ligament injuries can range from minor injuries and inflammation to complete ligament rupture. Athletes in such cases notice pain on the inside of the elbow and often notice a decrease in throw speed.
Hallux valgus extension
During the throw, the ulnar and humerus twist and act on each other. Over time, this can lead to valgus overload, a condition in which the protective cartilage of the ulnar process wears out and excess bone growth (osteophytes) occurs. Athletes with hallux valgus note swelling and pain at the site of maximum contact between the bones.
Stress fracture of the ulnar
Stress fractures occur if the muscles are overworked and are not able to take the force vector and absorb the shock. And, therefore, tired muscles carry a load vector on bone tissue, which leads to microcracks, which are called stress fractures.
The ulnar is the most common site of a stress fracture in throwers. Athletes note aching pains on the surface of the ulnar on the elbow underside. This pain intensifies during throwing or other intense activity, but sometimes the pain can be observed during rest.
Ulnar neuritis
With a flexed elbow, the ulnar nerve passes along the bony elevation at the end of the humerus. When throws, the elbow nerve is repeatedly stretched and sometimes the nerve is displaced from the site of localization, which leads to fiber slipping. This stretching or slipping leads to irritation and inflammation of the nerve and is called neuritis of the ulnar nerve.
With neuritis of the ulnar nerve caused by throws, patients note acute pain (like an electric current) that starts from the inside of the elbow and radiates along the nerve in the forearm. Numbness, tingling, or pain in the area of the little finger and ring fingers can occur during or immediately after the throw. It can also persist during rest.
Neuritis of the ulnar nerve can occur not only in injuries associated with throwing but also in other conditions. Patients, as a rule, notice similar symptoms usually in the morning, after a long stay of the elbow in a flexed state.