Athletic injuries of the wrist and hand: part II: overuse injuries of the wrist and traumatic injuries to the hand

Musculoskeletal injuries in sports

A large number of adolescents participate in various sports. Not withstanding the methodologic problems with epidemiologic data, a large percentage of athletes sustain musculoskeletal injuries. In most instances, the athlete first presents to his or her primary care physician, who must perform the initial assessment and decide on further management. Many injuries can be managed by the primary care physician. It is important to recognize the unique characteristics of adolescent growth and development that have implications for the diagnosis and management of musculoskeletal injuries.

Hand Injuries in Sports Medicine

Many athletic injuries of the hand commonly present to, and can be managed by, primary care physicians. Knowing when to refer is also obviously important. This article is not meant to be an exhaustive list of all possible hand injuries. Rather, it is meant to serve as a useful guide to the primary care physician. For the busy primary care physician, a thorough assessment of the hand or wrist complaint includes a focused history and physical and the judicious use of supportive diagnostic testing. Know your anatomy and sport. This will set the foundation clinically for the best possible outcome. Ultimately,the goals of assessment and management are to restore, maximize, and preserve function.