Sports Related Injuries
In a culture as sports-conscious as ours, injuries to the hand and upper extremities are common in the recreational athlete such as the week-end tennis enthusiast. Injuries to the hand and arm also result from participation in organized sports like Little League baseball, high school and collegiate football. In all sports related injuries, the goal is to provide accurate evaluation, treatment and rehabilitation to achieve the athlete's safe and prompt return to exercise and competition.
Hand Injuries
A jammed finger is a generic term encompassing the sprains, fractures and tendon injuries that occur when an extended finger is used to divert an oncoming ball or opponent. Prompt differentiation of minor sprains from ligaments ruptures, stable form from unstable fractures, significant from insignificant tendon injuries is of paramount importance.
With a jammed finger, over-treatment may be as damaging as under-treatment. For example, inappropriate prolonged splinting of a minor sprain may lead to long-term stiffness. On the other hand, failure to recognize and splint a complete tendon rupture may lead to otherwise avoidable surgical correction.
Wrist Injuries
Injuries to the wrist can take the form of fractures, sprains, or dislocations. They are most often the result of falling onto the outstretched hand, a common occurrence in sports such as football, soccer, and basketball.
Although fractures of the bones of the forearm are often obvious and readily visualized by X-ray, many wrist bone fractures and ligament sprains may be completely missed. Prompt recognition of such injuries can avoid the need for reconstructive surgery and prevent permanent disability in most cases.
In recent years, better understanding and careful examination of the wrist, complemented by more sophisticated diagnostic studies such as wrist arthroscopy, has vastly improved the rehabilitation of sports-related wrist injuries.
Shoulder and Elbow Injuries
Shoulder injuries in sports are fairly common. Violent stress can lead to obvious dislocation. This can be a recurrent problem in the shoulder. Equally problematic, particularly in the throwing athlete, are the more subtle conditions that plague the shoulder, such as incomplete dislocations and rotator cuff disorders.
In the elbow, conditions like "Little Leaguer's elbow" can be difficult to treat. However, such conditions can often be avoided with proper training and playing time restrictions.
Careful non-operative rehabilitation combined with judicious surgical reconstruction, including arthroscopic surgery, can be very successful; in limiting disability in the shoulder and elbow.