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Advancing Pediatric Sports Medicine: Insights and Innovations
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Advancing Pediatric Sports Medicine: Insights and Innovations

A special issue of Journal of Clinical Medicine (ISSN 2077-0383). This special issue belongs to the section "Orthopedics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 February 2026 | Viewed by 3953

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Brian C. Lau

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
Interests: sports surgery; patellar instability; early sport specialization

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

With the increasing participation of children in athletics, there has been a rise in orthopedic sports-related injuries in the pediatric population. While some injuries do not lead to future consequences, the inadequate diagnosis or treatment of many conditions may lead to long-term impacts on the health and well-being of children and adolescents, especially considering the developmental risks associated with certain injury subtypes. Additionally, we have a limited understanding of how social or environmental factors impact the pediatric sports population. As pediatric patients have historically been an understudied population, it is crucial to develop a more complex understanding of these conditions and injury patterns.

The goal of this Special Issue is to explore new advancements and perceptions in pediatric sports medicine with regard to prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and return to play. In order to provide the highest standard of care, it is vital for the community to have a holistic understanding of these injuries to better guide recommendations and care for young athletes. 

Dr. Brian C. Lau
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Journal of Clinical Medicine is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • sport surgery
  • patellar instability
  • early sport specialization
  • triplane fractures
  • pediatric sports medicine
  • orthopedic surgery
  • access to care
  • arthroscopic

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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11 pages, 505 KB  
Article
Adolescent ACL Reconstruction Using Quadriceps or Hamstring Tendon Autografts: A Comparative Study of Muscle Strength and Patient-Reported Outcomes
by Ritauras Rakauskas, Laimonas Šiupšinskas, Vytautas Streckis, Laurynas Galinskas, Rokas Jurkonis, Jūratė Tomkevičiūtė, Dalius Malcius and Emilis Čekanauskas
J. Clin. Med. 2025, 14(11), 3842; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14113842 - 29 May 2025
Viewed by 1012
Abstract
Background and Objectives: A prominent area of research in adolescent ACL reconstruction (ACLR) involves graft selection, with particular interest in the quadriceps tendon (QT) as an alternative to hamstring tendon (HT) autografts, although comparative studies on muscle strength outcomes and patient satisfaction in [...] Read more.
Background and Objectives: A prominent area of research in adolescent ACL reconstruction (ACLR) involves graft selection, with particular interest in the quadriceps tendon (QT) as an alternative to hamstring tendon (HT) autografts, although comparative studies on muscle strength outcomes and patient satisfaction in adolescents remain limited. This study aims to evaluate the influence of QT and HT autografts on muscle strength and satisfaction outcomes post-ACLR in adolescents. Methods: This prospective study was conducted at the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, enrolling 68 patients aged 12–17. ACLRs were performed using QT or HT autografts. Muscle strength was assessed using an isokinetic dynamometer (Biodex), while patient satisfaction was evaluated through IKDC, Lysholm, and ACL-RSI surveys preoperatively and 12 months postoperatively. Results: 54 patients (24 QT and 30 HT) completed the study. The data are non-parametric and are presented as median (IQR). Isokinetic measurements indicated that QT harvesting led to significantly lower extension strength compared to HT 6 months (p = 0.019) and 12 months post-op (p < 0.001) but showed better H/Q ratios 6 months (p = 0.019) and 12 months post-op (p < 0.001). There was no significant difference between the QT and HT groups in ACL-RSI and Lysholm scores. IKDC scores were significantly higher in the HT group (p = 0.009). Conclusions: QT autografts provide favorable H/Q ratios, yet they exhibit weaker extension strength and lower satisfaction outcomes compared to HT. These results suggest a need for individualized rehabilitation protocols and further research to optimize ACLR graft selection for adolescents. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancing Pediatric Sports Medicine: Insights and Innovations)
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Review

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11 pages, 208 KB  
Review
Pediatric Sports: The Mental Health and Psychological Impact of Sport and Injury
by Elaine Xu, Dylan N. Greif, Patrick Castle and Sarah Lander
J. Clin. Med. 2025, 14(12), 4321; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14124321 - 17 Jun 2025
Viewed by 1399
Abstract
Youth sport participation provides undeniable physical, emotional, and social benefits. However, the current landscape of pediatric athletics has shifted toward early sports specialization (ESS), year-round training, and heightened competitive pressures. This has led to an increased prevalence of overuse-related traumatic injuries in adolescent [...] Read more.
Youth sport participation provides undeniable physical, emotional, and social benefits. However, the current landscape of pediatric athletics has shifted toward early sports specialization (ESS), year-round training, and heightened competitive pressures. This has led to an increased prevalence of overuse-related traumatic injuries in adolescent patients, as well as increased risk of worsening mental health due to burnout, depression, suicide, and general psychological distress. There are numerous innovations and solutions aimed at addressing the increased risk of injury associated with current sporting trends, such as neuromuscular training programs, delayed specialization, promotion of free play, and pediatric specific surgical techniques mindful of future growth, such as those seen for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACL-R). However, the social factors associated with an injury remain problematic and are not adequately addressed; these include social isolation, depression, anxiety, and academic decline. Sport psychology is a promising solution to address many risk factors associated with poor performance, address the challenges associated with injury, and increase return-to-play in adolescent sports medicine. Integrating sport psychology into pediatric sports medicine offers the ability to directly address the emotional and cognitive demands of injury and recovery. Emphasizing mental health support and redefining success in youth sports—prioritizing enjoyment, personal growth, and long-term health over scholarships and professional aspirations—are key steps in preserving the overall benefits of pediatric sport participation. Yet sport psychology remains often underutilized and has been slow to gain traction, particularly in youth sports. This editorial serves to highlight the current state of mental health advocacy in pediatric sports medicine and how sport psychology can help young athletes manage the mental stress of high-performance athletics and mitigate the detrimental effect of injury and delayed return to sport. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancing Pediatric Sports Medicine: Insights and Innovations)
16 pages, 2457 KB  
Review
Physeal-Sparing Soft Tissue Realignment in Pediatric Patellofemoral Instability Patients: A Review of Treatment Options and Outcomes
by Christian F. Zirbes, Alyssa Henriquez, Alaowei Amanah, Aaron D. Therien, Sebastian Perez-Espina, Emilie Dorrestein, Diana Zheng, Jason Lilly, Emily J. Luo, Michael A. Fox and Brian C. Lau
J. Clin. Med. 2025, 14(4), 1116; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14041116 - 9 Feb 2025
Viewed by 1179
Abstract
Patellofemoral instability is a common condition in children, with an annual incidence of approximately 50 cases per 100,000 children. Instability of the patella involves a number of structures, such as the medial patellofemoral ligament and the vastus medialis obliquus, which can be used [...] Read more.
Patellofemoral instability is a common condition in children, with an annual incidence of approximately 50 cases per 100,000 children. Instability of the patella involves a number of structures, such as the medial patellofemoral ligament and the vastus medialis obliquus, which can be used for patellar realignment in soft tissue, physeal-sparing procedures. In this rapid review, we aim to review the surgical interventions, post-operative outcomes, and associated surgical complications of global soft tissue procedures in the management of patellofemoral instability. A search of the Medline database was conducted to identify studies evaluating the treatment and outcomes of global treatment of pediatric patellofemoral instability. The included studies analyzed the surgical management of patellofemoral instability in pediatric patients, utilizing soft tissue global procedures and reported functional outcomes, return to sport or play, and post-operative complications. A total of eight studies were included, comprising a cohort of 270 pediatric and adolescent patients and 334 knees. The average patient age was 10.6 years, with 60.4% (163/270) patients being female, and the mean follow-up duration was 58.4 months. Of the eight studies, two examined the three-in-one procedure, three examined the four-in-one procedure, one examined a combination of medial and lateral release, and two examined the Galeazzi procedure. This review underscores the variety of global physeal-sparing surgical procedures available for treating patellofemoral instability. While outcomes are generally favorable, with high rates of return to sport, recurrent residual instability and recurrent dislocation remain significant challenges, with residual instability affecting nearly half of patients. Future research should focus on exploring long-term outcomes, optimizing patient selection, and identifying the causes of recurrent instability to further enhance patient outcomes and reduce complication rates. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancing Pediatric Sports Medicine: Insights and Innovations)
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