MRI Diagnosis of Gymnast’s Wrist (Distal Radial Physeal Stress Injury)

TL;DR

MRI can help diagnose wrist injuries in young gymnasts caused by repetitive stress, enabling timely treatment.

Contribution

The paper presents a case highlighting MRI's role in diagnosing distal radial physeal stress injuries in gymnasts.

Findings

MRI showed focal widening of the distal radial physis and bone marrow edema in a 16-year-old gymnast.

Conservative treatment led to resolution of symptoms in the reported case.

Abstract

Gymnast’s wrist is an uncommon stress‑related injury of the distal radial physis caused by repetitive axial loading in skeletally immature athletes. We report the case of a 16‑year‑old elite gymnast presenting with progressive wrist pain without acute trauma. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated focal widening of the volar distal radial physis with adjacent metaphyseal and epiphyseal bone marrow edema, consistent with a stress‑related physeal injury. Conservative management with activity modification and physical therapy resulted in symptom resolution.

Teaching point: In young athletes with wrist pain, stress‑related physeal injury should be considered, and MRI allows early diagnosis and appropriate management.

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