Sports Injuries: Navigating Medical Care

***Disclaimer*** I am not giving medical advice. I'm simply pointing out how a mom handled her daughter's injury situation. Please consult your physician for all formal medical advice.

My friend's daughter (Anne) fell and hit her toe on something. Within minutes, Anne's toe and foot were swollen. My friend (Michelle) took Anne to urgent care, and an x-ray revealed a broken bone in her toe and a possible broken growth plate. The doctor referred Anne to an orthopaedic physician for further analysis. Instead of taking Anne to see the orthopaedic physician, Michelle called her pediatrician who recommended seeing him first. The pediatrician reviewed the x-ray and declared that the toe was not broken. This was in direct contrast to the radiology report and the urgent-care doc's diagnosis.

Now what? Well, Michelle called me and asked what I would do--she knew I've dealt with at least 10 sports injuries with my own children, including approx. 4 broken ankles, 2 broken arms, an avulsion fracture in the hip, a broken collarbone, a high-ankle sprain, and many others. Again, I am not a medical expert. I am a mom that uses her best judgment, just like you.

First, I suggested that Michelle get another opinion since the 2 prior opinions contrasted each other. Next, I suggested that Michelle find an orthopaedic physician who specializes in pediatrics and in foot injuries or sports injuries. Why? Because she wanted the best possible person to read the x-ray and because she wanted clear parameters for treatment and for when-to-return-to-sports.

Michelle did exactly as I suggested. (Honestly, I'm sure it would have worked out if she hadn't taken my advice because Michelle has good judgment.) And she was please with the results. The orthopaedic physician (who specialized in pediatric sports injuries and in foot and ankle injuries) agreed with the urgent care doc--the toe was broken. He specifically told Anne to take a 2-week break from gymnastics class and from her volleyball league. He also told her to immobilize it with tape and walk normally because her pain and swelling at that point was minor. Then he asked her to return in 2 weeks for a re-check and to re-judge return-to-sports parameters. (I'm leaving out a few details here, but I think you can get the gist of it.)

At the 2-week check, a new x-ray revealed that the broken toe was healed. And the doctor cleared Anne to return to sports.

Medicine is an art and a science. It is not exact. You, the parent, usually navigates your child's medical care using your best judgment. When your child gets injured, there are often many choices and routes that are appropriate. I'd love to hear what choices you've made in the past and why the results were successful.

In the meanwhile, I hope your young athlete stays injury-free.

-Kim