Ana Maria Gaca MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

1. Describe the spectrum of childhood injuries associated with playing basketball. 2. Identify and assess areas at increased risk of injury from basketball. 3. Assess the need and type of imaging needed for particular injury patterns.

As more children are participating in organized sports at younger ages, these young athletes are developing sport-related injuries seen only in adolescents and adults in the past. In addition to the overuse injuries which are becoming more common among young and older athletes, several physical features of the growing child contribute to physical ailments not seen in older athletes. The growing cartilage in an open growth plate is generally weaker than the surrounding ligaments and tendons, leaving young athletes vulnerable to fractures rather than the strains/sprains. The combination of rapid bone growth and overuse contribute to the development of traction apophysitis. Factors associated with the game of basketball contribute to injury as well, including the start-and-stop nature of the game, rapid changes in speed and direction and the playing surface. Basketball has evolved to become a more physical sport, resulting in increasing injuries from player-to-player and player-to-object contact. The fast-paced nature of the game is unsuitable to significant protective equipment. While injury to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is a relatively common injury in basketball players, the injury rates for girls is significantly higher than for boys. There are numerous theories for this difference, including variations in femoral notch size, size of the ACL, variations in lower extremity strength, flexibility and muscle firing patterns and the hormonal influence on ligament laxity. With increasing number of young athletes and the increasing incidence of sports related injuries, radiologists must be aware of the pattern of injuries associated with these activities.

Gaca, A, Pediatric Basketball Injuries.  Radiological Society of North America 2007 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 25 - November 30, 2007 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2007/5000654.html