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WHY  SPRAINS  OCCUR?

 

An active child is bound to have occasional minor accidents. Your child will be climbing, running and jumping with little thought about his own safety, so you may well have to deal with strains and sprains from time to time.

 

• Strained and sprained limbs usually occur due to sudden twists or an awkward landing. They come under the heading of soft tissue injuries which are injuries to the ligaments tendons and muscles that surround and support the bones. 
• A strain is caused by sudden over-stretching of a muscle or a tendon, which is the fibrous band that anchors the muscle to a bone. A sharp pull or twist to the muscle may cause the muscle fibers to tear. 
• A sprain happens when there is injury to a ligament, usually caused by sudden over-stretching. Ligaments are tough bands that hold bones together at joints. Sudden twisting of the joint makes the ligament stretch and possibly tear. The most common sites for a sprain are the ankles, knees and fingers. 

A sprain or strain may result from a sudden or unexpected wrenching movement, and can partially tear or pull the ligament or joint.

 

Recognizing the signs

 

Most falls and bumps will result in nothing more than a few tears and are soon forgotten. If, however, your child has a strain or sprain, you may notice some obvious signs.

 

Pain or tenderness in the area of the injury. A very young child will not be able to tell you where it hurts, so it is important to watch him carefully to see if he cries when a particular joint is used.

 

Swelling of the affected area, either immediately or later. .

 

Redness or bruising in the area of the injury. This may not become apparent until several hours after the injury has occurred.

 

Reduced mobility in the affected joint. Damage to ligaments does not prevent the joint working, as may be the case with a fracture, but the pain and swelling of a sprain may make it difficult to move. In the case of an ankle, leg or foot sprain or strain, the child will have difficulty putting full weight on it.

 

When to call the doctor

 

Most strains and sprains are minor and can be dealt with simply at home; however, a soft tissue injury can sometimes be more severe and there may even be a fracture - even medical staff find it hard to tell the difference between a sprain and a fracture. Seek medical advice if:

 

You think there may be a broken a bone rather than a sprain wilt have made an audible snapping noise. 

Pain is severe, and doesn’t get better fairly quickly. 

A joint looks misshapen or out of place- this may be a sign of a dislocation. 

Your child isn’t moving the injured limb, or can’t bear to put weight on it. 

Symptoms don’t improve, or they get worse, or if the child show any signs of shock. 

Bruising remains in the affected area for several days after the injury has occurred. 

Giving first aid

 

Most sprains can be treated at home by giving basic first aid. An easy way to remember how to deal with a soft tissue injury is to think of the word RICE which stands for Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation. However, if in doubt seek medical advice.

 

Rest: it is very important that the child rests the injured area so that it can begin to heal. Lay your child in a comfortable position and steady and support the injured area.

 

lce: if the injury has just happened, an ice-pack or a cold compress should be held against the injured area. This will help to reduce the pain, swelling and bruising. Never put ice directly on to your child's skin make sure it is wrapped up in several layers of thin cloth. Apply the compress for

approximately 10 minutes every two hours.

 

Compression: applying a layer of padding, secured with a bandage, to the injured area will help to stop swelling and will also give added support and protection.

 

Elevation: if you can raise the injured area this will reduce the blood flow and help to prevent further swelling and bruising. A sprained ankle should be lifted up and supported by a cushion while your child rests.

 

If important to follow the RICE procedure to treat a sprain or strain initially. After supporting the limb apply a cold compress to the area - soak a flannel in very cold water wring it out and place it firmly over the injury.

 

Cold compresses

 

There are a number of ways to cool an injury.

 

Placing the affected area under cold running water for several minutes may help, especially if your child has an injured finger. 

Soak a flannel or towel in cold water, wring it out and place it firmly over the injury and surrounding area. The cloth will need to be re-soaked every three to five minutes. to keep it cold. 

Make an icepack by putting ice cubes or crushed ice into a plastic bag then wrapping the bag in a cloth. This can be held against the injured area for 10 minutes, every two to three hours. 

NOTE: a sealed bag of frozen vegetables can be used as an icepack in an emergency. Make sure you wrap the bag in several layers of cloth before applying to the injured area.

 

A pack of frozen vegetables wrapped in a cloth is an effective home-made compress. It is also possible to buy a ready-made compress

 

Helping your child to recover

 

You can expect your child to recover fully from a strain or sprain, although this may take one to two weeks.

• Rest is the most important factor in healing a soft tissue injury. You and your child must be patient and allow the injured area plenty of time to recover properly. 
• Pain relief may be necessary in the first day or two. Give liquid ibuprofen, but follow the instructions on the bottle carefully. Seek advice from a pharmacist if necessary. 
• Gentle movement can begin when there is no more pain. Gradually increase your child's activity, but stop if the injury begins to hurt or swell again. When all his symptoms are gone your child can resume normal activities. 
• You will notice that any bruising gradually changes colour from blue to purplish-black then yellow. 
• Try to prevent a repeat of the injury by talking to your child about how it happened, or making any necessary changes to your safety arrangements around the house. 
• Complications are unusual. Repeated sprains of the same area, which may happen in older children who play sport, may lead to weakness of that part of the body. Strapping the weak limb, especially during play, may be necessary to give extra support to the injured area. 

For  More  Information:  Please  consult  your  physician  on  your  next  visit.