Lower extremity injuries in youth sports

Lower extremity injuries comprise a significant portion of all conditions affect young athletes. Recognition of the common injuries, their characteristic presentations, and physical findings can help nonorthopedists make proper diagnoses and prescribe effective therapy. This article focuses on relevant anatomy, injury mechanisms, clinical evaluation, and use of radiologic studies for common acute injuries to the hip, pelvis, thigh, leg, knee, and ankle. This article focuses special attention on injuries that are unique to the skeletally immature athlete. The article discusses treatment options as well as indications for surgical referral and criteria for return to play.