With easing COVID-19 restrictions, we are on the move again, especially children and teens in sports. With that comes the potential for injury and Vidant Orthopedics and Sports Medicine is here to help.
Vidant Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Robert Palmer appeared on WITN to discuss common sports injuries and how to prevent them.
He said the most common sports-related injuries he sees are broken wrists and clavicle fractures. The most important things you can do for yourself or your child to prevent sports injuries is to maintain a typical healthy lifestyle and get plenty of Vitamin D.
Dr. Palmer said a unique risk this year is young people returning to sports after a year away.
“I’ve seen quite a number of children in my clinic who have gone back, and just participating in a field day event at school and they’ve actually gotten stress-related fractures from what we would consider everyday events,” Dr. Palmer said. “That is probably just because their bodies aren’t used to the load from sports. I think taking it slow and easing back into things and making sure they have a good healthy diet is a good start to prevent injuries.”
He also discussed the importance of the implementation of rules to limit overuse injuries. An example of this is rules set by youth baseball organizations in conjunction with Major League Baseball to keep children safe. Dr. Palmer encouraged coaches and parents to educate themselves on these rules and stay on top of them to keep children healthy.
While many sports-related injuries in children just require typical treatment like rest and ice, some are more serious. It can be challenging to know when it’s time to consult a physician but Dr. Palmer gave some tips on what to look for.
“When we see a patient, if they have limited range of motion, inability to weight bear, swelling about a joint, reduced motion about that joint,” Dr. Palmer said, “certainly if there’s a bone sticking out of the skin or there’s bleeding, those are more urgent things that we should address and potentially may need surgery. Other sports-related injuries are ACL tears or ligament tears and shoulder instability that we think about.”
Visit the Orthopedics and Sports Medicine section of VidantHealth.com to learn more about services Vidant offers.
“Being a pediatric orthopedic surgeon is unique because we are responsible for treating the whole child,” Dr. Palmer said. “We see so many unique cases, from limb deficiencies, to physical deformities and traumatic injuries like broken bones. This means the relationship I build with my patients and their family is not centered around a single surgical event, but rather the unique treatment and healing process catered to help that child get back to life.”
Pediatric orthopedists specialize in treating bone, joint or muscle problems and the care continuum using both surgical and nonoperative treatment modalities for pediatric patients depending on the severity of their condition. Cases range from physical conditions from birth to sports-related injuries. Using innovative rehabilitation strategies, the goal is to safely and expediently get the patient back to his or her baseline level of function.
Patients and families can expect a coordinated process that usually involves the primary pediatrician, orthopedic surgeon, physical therapist and sometimes even the child life specialists at the Vidant Health Maynard Children’s Hospital at ECU Health Medical Center, who specialize in supporting pediatric patients throughout the healing journey.
“One of the most important aspects of treating pediatric patients is being able to clearly communicate,” Dr. Palmer said. “There is a lot of fear that can come with a patient, especially the younger ones that may not understand their condition or injury. I have a young daughter myself and my approach is to treat the patient and family as if I was in their shoes.”
With resources across Vidant’s 29-county service area, the healing process post-surgery is designed to keep care as close to home as possible, reducing the need for long car rides which can be a hindrance for children in pain.
“This is the best job in the world,” Dr. Palmer said. “I get to help a child and their parents through one of their most difficult times. It is an amazing feeling and I am incredibly grateful to have that opportunity.” For more information about pediatric orthopedics, please call Vidant Orthopedics-Greenville at 252-816-4001.
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