Greater Austin Orthopaedics is a full service orthopaedic practice dedicated to delivering the most compassionate, innovative, quality orthopaedic healthcare possible while keeping each patient’s personal goals and needs in mind.
Adolescent Sports Injuries
With school back in session, this is the time of year kids are practicing football, basketball, soccer and cheerleading. It’s also the time of year you need to watch for sports injuries. Some of the most common sports injuries are sprains and fractures of the ankle, ligament tears in the knee, and dislocation of the shoulder. It’s important to know how to prevent such injuries and what to do if an injury occurs.
Sports Injury Prevention
- Always wear appropriate safety gear and equipment that fits properly
- Make sure the sport is supervised by an adult at all times with strict enforcement of all safety rules
- Drink an adequate amount of liquids before, during and after athletic activities
- Make sure you’re playing in a safe environment, with no rocks or holes on the field
Treatment
Treatment for sports-related injuries will vary by injury. If your child suffers an injury such as a sprain or strain, the best immediate treatment is easy to remember: RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) Get professional treatment if any injury is severe (A severe injury means having an obvious fracture or dislocation of a joint, prolonged swelling or prolonged, severe pain.
Ankle Injuries
Injury:
The most common type of ankle sprain results from turning or rolling the ankle inward. Signs and symptoms include pain on the outside of the ankle, swelling, bruising and limited ankle motion and function.
Treatment:
Initially is non surgical and includes RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation). Surgical treatment is reserved for recurrent ankle injuries, or severe ankle sprains unresponsive to conservative care. The surgery involves repairing the ligaments directly or reconstructing ligaments that are too badly damaged to be repaired.
Knee Injuries
Meniscus
The meniscus is a cushion of cartilage in the knee that sits between the upper and lower leg bones. Its function is to distribute your body weight across the knee joint.
Injury:
A sudden twist or repeated squatting can tear the meniscus. Symptoms of a torn meniscus include pain or swelling of the knee, or a catching or locking of the joint when you move it.
Treatment:
If you have torn your meniscus, surgery may be necessary to remove or repair the damaged tissue. Torn tissue on the inside is usually removed but torn tissue on the outer edge of the meniscus can often be repaired. This tissue gets enough blood to heal properly.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL)
The anterior cruciate ligament is one of the four major ligaments of the knee, and is crucial to joint stability. Patients may be able to function in their daily activities without a normal ACL, but in high-demand sports, this could prove difficult.
Injury:
A sudden fall, twist or blow may tear the anterior cruciate ligament. ACL tears can cause pain, swelling and an unstable knee.
Treatment:
Your surgeon can reconstruct a damaged ACL. The damaged tissue is replaced with healthy strong tissue, called a graft. The graft may come from the patellar tendon, the hamstring tendon or even from another person.
Greater Austin Orthopaedics is dedicated to providing the best service possible to its patients. For more information about Greater Austin Orthopaedics or for information involving general orthopaedics, sports medicine, joint replacement, occupational injuries and physical therapy log onto: www.GAOrtho.com
South Office
4310 James Casey, Suite 3-C
Austin, Texas 78745
(512) 326-2800
North Office
12701 FM 620
Austin, TX 78750
(512) 401-8400
