Eponyms in Pediatric Sports Medicine: A Historical Review

Abstract

The use of eponyms in the orthopedics literature has come under scrutiny, and there is a growing body of literature evaluating the utility of these terms in modern healthcare delivery. Although the field of pediatric orthopedic sports medicine is a relatively modern subspecialty, it is built on a foundation of over 100 years of pediatric musculoskeletal medicine. As a result, eponyms account for a significant portion of the vernacular used in the field. The purpose of this review is to summarize and describe the history of common eponyms relevant to pediatric sports pathology, examination maneuvers, classification systems, and surgical procedures. Use of eponyms in medicine is flawed. However, an improved understanding of these terms allows for informed use in future scientific discourse, patient care and medical education and may encourage future innovation and research into understanding pediatric orthopedic pathologies.