The increased participation of children and adolescents in organized sports worldwide is a welcome trend given\nevidence of lower physical fitness and increased prevalence of overweight in this population. However, the\nincreased sports activity of children from an early age and continued through the years of growth, against a\nbackground of their unique vulnerability to injury, gives rise to concern about the risk and severity of injury. Three\ntypes of injuryââ?¬â??anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, concussion, and physeal injury ââ?¬â?? are considered potentially\nserious given their frequency, potential for adverse long-term health outcomes, and escalating healthcare costs.\nConcussion is probably the hottest topic in sports injury currently with voracious media coverage and exploding\nresearch interest. Given the negative cognitive effects of concussion, it has the potential to have a great impact on\nchildren and adolescents during their formative years and potentially impair school achievement and, if concussion\nmanagement is not managed appropriately, there can be long term negative impact on cognitive development\nand ability to resume sports participation. Sudden and gradual onset physeal injury is a unique injury to the\npediatric population which can adversely affect growth if not managed correctly. Although data are lacking, the\nfrequency of stress-related physeal injury appears to be increasing. If mismanaged, physeal injuries can also lead to\nlong-term complications which could negatively affect ability to participate in sports. Management of ACL injuries is\nan area of controversy and if not managed appropriately, can affect long-term growth and recovery as well as the\nability to participate in sports. This article considers the young athleteââ?¬â?¢s vulnerability to injury, with special reference\nto ACL injury, concussion, and physeal injury, and reviews current research on epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment,\nand prevention of these injury types. This article is intended as an overview of these injury types for medical\nstudents, healthcare professionals and researchers.
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