LOWER LEG, FOOT, AND ANKLE INJURIES IN YOUNG ATHLETES

The young athlete presents with very unique pathology of the lower extremity. The unique features of the ligaments, muscle-tendon unit, and bone can give a very different clinical picture than one sees with the adult athlete. It is imperative to select the youthful athlete at risk and also to determine the sports of risk for that particular competitior. Most injuries to the young athlete do have a benign natural course, but there are some lower leg injuries, such as osteochondral fractures, that require meticulous monitoring.