Little leaguers elbow is a common term for medial elbow pain that encompasses microtears of the flexor pronator muscle group and/or the ulnar collateral ligament, which place strain on the medial epicondyle and can cause apophysitis. It is most commonly diagnosed in skeletally immature throwers (usual age 9–12 years) as a result of the repeated valgus stress that occurs with pitching, often from throwing curve balls. On plain x-rays, this is appreciated as apophyseal widening or, in severe cases, fragmentation or avulsion fracture of the medial epicondylar apophysis. Treatment involves 2 to 3 weeks of rest, no throwing for 6 to 12 weeks, and rarely surgery if the medial apophysis is significantly displaced.
Little leaguers elbow
