Types of Sports Injuries II

5. Fracture:

A fracture is a break, bend or crack in the bone of the body, It is a major injury to the bone. 

Types of Fracture:

A. Green-stick Fracture: 

Green-stick fracture is common in children younger than 10 years of age. It is the bending of bones without the bones breaking.

B. Complicated Fracture: 

Complicated fracture is a type of fracture that involves injury to body structures surrounding the fracture, like blood vessels, liver, lungs, nerve or heart. It could result in damage to the body structure or organ. 

C. Multiple Fractures: 

Multiple fracture is when the bone is broken at several points. 

 D. Compound Fracture: 

A compound fracture is also known as open fracture. It is a situation where the broken bone tears off the flesh.

E. Simple Fracture: 

Simple fracture is also known as closed fracture. It is a break in the bone without an open wound to the exterior surface of the skin. 

F. Depressed Fracture: 

Depressed fracture is a fracture common to the skull in which the fragment is depressed below the normal surface. It could result from getting struck with a hammer, or rock or getting kicked in the head. 

G. Hairline Fracture or Stress fracture:

Hairline fracture is a thin, partial fracture of the bone.

H. Comminuted Fracture:

Comminuted fracture is when a bone breaks into more than two pieces or multiple fragments. It is most common in high-impact traumas like car accidents.

I. Non-displaced Fracture: 

The bone breaks into pieces but remains into pieces that stay in their normal alignment. 

J. Buckle or Torus Fracture: 

This is the most common type of fracture in children because their bones are softer and more flexible than adult bones. So the injury makes the bone bend and buckle, rather than break.

One side of a bone bends, raising a little buckle, without breaking the other side of the bone.

First Aid Treatment for Fracture:

• Identify the type of fracture.
• Rest the fractured limb to avoid complications.
• Immobilize the bone at the site of the fracture. 
• Use a bandage, sling and splint to support the broken limb. 
• Stop any bleeding and cover wounds if present.
• Promptly send the victim to a medical establishment.  

6. Drowning: 

Drowning occurs when submersion/immersion in liquid causes suffocation or interferes with breathing. During drowning, the body is deprived of oxygen, which can damage organs, particularly the brain.

Drowning is not always fatal. Fatal drowning happens when the drowning results in death. Nonfatal drowning happens when a person survives a drowning incident.

Symptoms of Drowning:

• Uncoordinated movement in water 
• Rapid drinking of water 
• Cessation of breathing 
• Unconsciousness

Causes of Drowning:

• Carelessness
• Lack of skill in swimming 
• Boat accident 
• Lack of life jackets/personal floating devices (PFDs) 
• Consumption of alcohol 
• Suicide attempt
• Fatigue or exhaustion when swimming
• Diving into shallow water and sustaining a head or neck injury

First Aid Treatment for Drowning:

• Attempt to rescue the victim. The rescuer must be a good swimmer. Materials like poles, floating devices, ropes, and extended instruments can be thrown at the drowning victim.

• Clean up the nostrils to ensure there are no obstructions in the mouth.

• Remove water from the extended stomach.

• Initiate artificial respiration.

• Send to the doctor.

7. Fainting:

Fainting is medically known as “syncope”. It is commonly known as “passing out”. It is a state of temporary unconsciousness due to reduced oxygen/blood supply to the brain. 

Symptoms of Fainting:

• Dizziness 
• Nausea 
• Blurred vision
• Muffled hearing 
• Tingled sensation 
• Weakness 
• Sweatiness
• Irregular heartbeat 
• Low pulse rate 

Causes of Fainting:

• Hunger 
• Exhaustion/tiredness 
• Mental shock 
• Emotional problems 
• Lack of ventilation / fresh air
• Loss of blood/anaemia

First Aid Treatment for Fainting:

• Check for breathing. Check for a pulse and to see if the person is breathing.

• Remove clothing around the victim’s neck and chest.

• Lay the victim down on his/her back. Kneel by them. Raise their legs. Give them fresh air and monitor them.

• Call for medical personnel immediately.

8. Wound: 

A wound is a cut on the skin or damage to the tissue of the body that allows the escape of blood. It is a break in the continuity of any bodily tissue usually involving the skin. 

Types of Wound:

A. Incised Wound: 

Incised Wound is a clean, straight cut in the skin by a sharp object like a knife, cutlass, razor blade etc. An incised wound is straight, smooth, and has sharp and well-defined edges. 

B. Lacerated Wound: 

Lacerated wounds are caused by sharp, irregular objects like saws. The edges of a lacerated wound are rough, jagged, irregular and uneven. 

C. Contusion or Bruises:

Contused wounds are caused by blunt objects which injure the tissues under the skin leaving the skin unbroken. 

D. Punctured Wound: 

A punctured wound is caused by sharp pointed objects like needles, pins, javelin sticks, arrows etc. A punctured wound is usually narrower and deeper than a cut, it may often appear to be on the surface but may extend into the deeper tissue layers.

E. Avulsion:

An avulsion is a wound caused by a tearing force in which the tissue is torn away completely and bleeds profusely. Avulsion could occur during violent accidents such as body-crushing accidents, explosions and gunshots.

F. Abrasion: 

Abrasion results from the scraping away of the superficial layer of the skin. Abrasion is also known as scraping away or rubbing off, of the skin surface. It is a shallow wound that is not deep. 

First Aid Treatment for Wound:

• The first aider should first of all wash his / her hands before touching the wound. 

• Arrest bleeding.

• Clean up the wound with antiseptic e.g. hydrogen peroxide. 

• Apply sterile dressing on the wound. 

• Cover the wound with either a bandage or a clean cloth. 

• Send the victim to a doctor. 

9. Bleeding (Haemorrhage/Hemorrhage): 

Bleeding is medically known as haemorrhage or hemorrhage. Bleeding is simply known as loss of blood. Bleeding could be internal (when blood leaks out or escapes under the skin from damaged blood vessels.) or external (when blood exits through a cut on the skin.)

Evaluation Questions (Theory):

1. Define sports injury
2. State five (5) causes of sports injury.
3. Outline five (5) types of sports injuries.