title: Radiographic follow-up study of Little Leaguer's shoulder.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Little Leaguer's shoulder is a syndrome involving the proximal humeral epiphyseal plate. Conservative treatment usually resolves the symptoms. However, there are no reports of a radiographic follow-up study of this disease. The purpose of this study was to show the radiographic healing process of Little Leaguer's shoulder.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 19 male baseball players diagnosed as having Little Leaguer's shoulder were retrospectively evaluated. The mean age at first presentation was 12.7 years. External rotation anteroposterior radiographs of the shoulder were taken. All patients were treated with rest from throwing, and no throwing was recommended until remodeling was confirmed. Follow-up radiographs were taken at 1-month intervals to assess healing. All patients were observed until healing was confirmed radiographically, after which they returned to baseball. The mean follow-up period was 8.5 months. In addition to radiography, patients were asked whether they had any symptoms and whether they had been able to return to baseball.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At the first examination, radiographs showed a wider epiphyseal plate of the throwing side compared with the asymptomatic contralateral shoulder. Healing was observed in all cases. Healing occurred first along the medial side and was then extended laterally. The mean time required for healing was 4.7 months. All patients were able to return to playing baseball at their pre-injury level of play and were asymptomatic when examined at the final follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The healing process of Little Leaguer's shoulder advanced from medial to lateral, and healing was achieved about 5 months after initial examination.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Tokushima National Hospital, Tokushima, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshiji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kanematsu
authors.forename: Tetsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsuura
authors.forename: Shinji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kashiwaguchi
authors.forename: Takenobu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Iwase
authors.forename: Naoto
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Suzue
authors.forename: Toshiyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Iwame
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sairyo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018771:Arthralgia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D001484:Baseball / Q000293:injuries*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006811:Humerus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000293:injuries*; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D000070599:Shoulder Injuries; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D013577:Syndrome