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

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

By: Amal El Madani and  Lokmane Taihi  
Open Access
|Mar 2026

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.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5334/jbsr.4212 | Journal eISSN: 2514-8281
Language: English
Submitted on: Jan 13, 2026
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Accepted on: Feb 18, 2026
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Published on: Mar 13, 2026
Published by: Ubiquity Press
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services
Publication frequency: 1 issue per year

© 2026 Amal El Madani, Lokmane Taihi, published by Ubiquity Press
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.