Background Significant effort has been made by multiple organizations including Little League Baseball, USA Baseball, Major League Baseball, and the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons to minimize the rate of shoulder and elbow injury among Little League Baseball players. Despite this effort, recent MRI studies have shown high rates of elbow pathology in this athletic population. The purpose of the current study was to track a cohort of Little League baseball players over three years with serial examinations and MRI to determine the natural history, progression, and risk factors of previously identified elbow pathology. Methods A prospective study of Little League players who were 12 to 15 years of age was performed. All players had preseason and postseason elbow MRI performed three years prior to the current study. Players underwent repeat bilateral elbow MRI, physical examination of bilateral shoulders and elbows, a detailed assessment of throwing history, and completed a questionnaire addressing playing history and current playing status, and any arm pain. The MRI scans were read by a blinded musculoskeletal radiologist and subsequently compared to players’ prior MRI to assess for progression or resolution of previously identified pathology. Identified MRI pathology was categorized as persistent/mild, progressive/severe, or improved/resolved (Figure 1). Results All 26 players who participated in the previous single season study returned for a 3-year longitudinal assessment, representing a 100% follow-up rate. Fifteen players (58%) had dominant arm MRI pathology. 80% of MRI findings (12/15 players) were determined to be new or progressive lesions. Players with post-season MRI pathology were significantly more likely to have MRI pathology at 3-years follow-up (pConclusion/Significance Dominant elbow MRI abnormalities are common in asymptomatic Little League baseball players. Three-year longitudinal evaluation suggests that these MRI findings commonly progress, especially amongst players who continue to play baseball. Year-round play appears to impart the most notable risk to young players, with results of the current study showing increased rates of physical exam abnormalities and progressive MRI pathology. Further guidelines addressing year-round play in Little League Baseball should be established.
