Rotator cuff injuries in skeletally immature patients: prevention and indications for the orthopaedic nurse.

Within the last decade, organized sports have grown, leading to an increase in the incidence of overuse injuries in the pediatric population. The possibility of rotator cuff tears in skeletally immature athletes should be considered during physical examination, and prevention programs should be emphasized to at-risk patients in order to help reverse the current trend in overuse injuries in this population. This article will address a series of adolescent patients with sports-related rotator cuff injuries to address a growing pattern of overuse injuries in adolescents. We will also discuss the effects on the orthopaedic nursing community and the interventions for anticipatory guidance that the orthopaedic nurses can incorporate into their everyday practice.