Pediatric orthopaedic surgeon Dr. Andrew Peace explains the steps to take when your young athlete gets hurt.

Whether it’s a tough tackle, a slip up on a slide into second or another play that didn’t go as planned, injuries are always a possibility when kids are involved in sports. Sports injuries can be scary when it comes to your child, but not all of them need to be seen by a medical professional. Some just need a little time and TLC at home.

What are the most common sports injuries in kids?

Our pediatric orthopaedic doctors often see young athletes with:

• Ankle injuries
• Knee injuries ranging from a bone bruise to ligamentous or an ACL tear
• Fractures of the lower extremities, and from falls on the upper extremities
• Muscle sprains and strains

My colleague Dr. Chester Sharps explains these injuries in this article.

When should I seek medical care for my child’s sports injury, and when is it okay to wait and see if it gets better before bringing them in?

This is always the big question and it really depends on what you’re seeing and how they’re feeling.

Ice and rest are a logical first step if:

• There’s minimal swelling
• There is soreness but your child can walk without difficulty (maybe a slight limp but nothing significant)
• The pain responds well to over-the-counter pain medicine, resting and icing

For more severe injuries – such as fractures or higher-grade sprains – it’s a good idea to consult with a medical professional. Symptoms include:

• Inability to walk
• Significant swelling
• Pain that is not well controlled
• The condition doesn’t improve or gets worse over 1-2 days

If you can see an obvious deformity in the limb and/or the pain is unbearable, seek care right away.

What should I know about icing my child’s injury?

The purpose of ice is to help reduce pain and swelling, but it’s possible to have too much of a good thing. 

• Wrap the ice pack or bag of ice in a towel/cloth rather than putting it directly on the skin to prevent frostbite. 
• Apply the wrapped ice for 20 minutes at a time, several times per day. 
• Make sure to take breaks and allow the skin to warm up before icing again.

This is general guidance, but you know your child best. If you’re concerned, we’d rather see them sooner than later so we can help with the proper healing process. 

We can often see patients in our orthopaedic clinic the same day Monday – Friday, and our emergency department is open 24/7.

Dr. James Engels, chief of pediatric orthopaedics gets detailed about broken bones in this blog post.
 

Concussion is another common sports injury. Learn more about concussion symptoms and when to seek care.