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Sprained Ankles And Kids
Category: Ankles and Feet and RICES
Jul 30, 2006
As school time approaches for many children and teens, kids are out more on playground equipment and training for sports begins. When injuries occur, parents face the age-old debate: Do I bring my child to the doctor or try to treat at home?
First, let me be clear that if there is any question about a person's airway, breathing, circulation or disability-what the American Heart Association terms the 'A, B, C, D' indicators - then emergency care should be sought. Any injury that affects the general function of the body, including confusion, being less alert, weakness or numbness in arms and legs, dizziness or an obvious broken bone should definitely receive immediate medical care from a physician.
For most, confusion over treatment centers around what are called acute traumatic injuries, the most common of which are sprains and strains. A sprain is a stretch or tear of the ligament, which connects one bone to another at the joint. A strain is a stretch or tear of the muscle or tendon, which connects the muscle to the bone.
Classic symptoms of a sprain or strain are pain, swelling and muscle spasm. When the pain is from trauma to local tissue, the body tries to compensate for the pain by limiting mobility and causing the muscles to go into spasm around the injured site.
A visit to the doctor depends upon the condition and location of the injury, and the severity of symptoms. Signs include an injury that caused a popping sound in the joint; pain that is unbearable, increases progressively or does not subside with rest; serious swelling or numbness; inability to use the injured joint or muscle.
My advice, and the gold standard among physicians, is immediate treatment with RICE: Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation. Ice should be applied for 20 minutes at a time, four to eight times a day. Parents can compress the area at home using an elastic wrap from a drug store, but serious swelling will need a wrap, cast or splint from the doctor.
Most importantly, all sports injuries or complaints from children need to be taken seriously and attended to. Parents and coaches should never assume that kids will bounce back because they are young. Untreated injuries can lead to permanent damage and later disease, such as osteoarthritis.
(Dr. Andree Caillet is a family practitioner with the Family Health Plaza of Lafayette General Medical Center. This column is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, emergency treatment or formal first-aid training.)
Originally published August 1, 2006