The pediatric ankle and foot: a review of common injuries in the pediatric athlete and their treatments

With 45 million children between 6 and 18 years of age participating in organized sports, pediatric injuries to the ankle and foot are extremely common. As the number of pediatric athletes grows, a concomitant rise in pediatric ankle and foot injuries is expected. In pediatric athletes, the ankle and foot undergoes rapid growth, which predisposes this population to injuries and complications that may not be seen in an adult population. In this review article, we discuss common pediatric ankle and foot injuries and detail the current practices with regard to their prevention, diagnosis, and treatment in order to provide a foundation for clinicians to build upon.