CT Child and Teen Sports Accidents and Related Injuries

It has been estimated that more than 35 million children and teens participate in organized sports in the United States each year. Another large number of this same demographic  participate in less organized recreational games, sports and activities. Sports activities can provide a number of benefits such as exercise, developing a skill and meeting new people but along with the great benefits come the risk of becoming injured, sometimes seriously.  The Center For Disease Control reported that in 2001,  more than 1.8 million children under the age of 15 were treated in hospital emergency room departments for sports-related injuries.

These types of injuries are the most common cause of musculoskeletal problems in children that are treated in hospital emergency room departments and are the most common cause of primary care office visits related to injuries.

The Most Commonly Treated Sports-Related Injuries in Children

Sports and recreational accidents can result in injuries ranging from minor scrapes and bruises to broken bones to brain and spinal cord injuries to fatalities.. However the most commonly treated types of sports and recreational injuries are:

Strains and Sprains

The most commonly treated sports injury is a sprained ankle. A sprain can range from a minor injury to a more serious condition that can result in an extended period of convalescence. A sprain involves an injury to a ligament which two or more joints.

Growth Plate Injuries

A growth plate injury can be a serious problem that may have life altering consequences for a child or teenager. The growth plate is basically an area where tissues continues to grow and develop at the end of the long bones in growing children and teens. Because some young people receive injures to their growth plate before it has completed growing it may cause the growth plate to stop developing or may retard the growth process. Ordinarily when an adolescent's growth plate is finished developing the soft tissue is replaced by solid bone.  These injuries are typically seen in the following bones:

• the hands and fingers which are referred to as the metacarpals and phalanges;
• the bones of the forearm which are called the radius and ulna;
• the femur which is the bone of the upper leg;
• the tibia and fibula which are the bones of the lower leg; and
• the bones comprising the foot which are the metatarsals and phalanges.

If your child breaks any bone it is important to consult with an orthopedic doctor who has experience in treating growth plate injuries.

Heat-Related Accidents and Illnesses

Heat-related illnesses could include:

• simple to extreme dehydration;
• exhaustion due to overheating; and
• heat stroke.

Heat injuries can be very dangerous and may result in death. Young people are especially prone to these types of problems because they cannot dissipate heat as quickly as adults. These types of injuries and problems can be more easily prevented.

If your child or teen has been in a sports related accident anywhere in Connecticut contact one of our child injury lawyers for a free no obligation consultation to review your child or teen's case. We will even provide you with a FREE copy of our book "The Crash Course on Child Injury Claims." Get the answers you need right away before you do something to harm your child or teen's accident case. Call us toll free at (888) 244-5480 or visit us at www.hcwlaw.com.  Don't wait until it's too late. Call us today for a FREE consultation.