Ways To Avoid Summer Sports Injuries

Main Category: Sports Medicine / Fitness
Article Date: 14 Jun 2008 - 1:00 PDT

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During the summer months, thousands of facial injuries occur to people of all ages. Dr. Anthony Brissett, facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon at The Methodist Hospital in Houston, says taking some basic precautions can minimize long lasting facial injuries, prevent costly medical problems and allow people to enjoy the summer injury-free.

Q: What are the main head and neck injuries you see?

A: I see a lot of patients with facial injuries, anything from lacerations to facial fractures such as broken cheek bones and noses. Whether the injuries are from baseball, basketball, bike riding, swimming or just outdoor fun, I've seen them all.

Q: How do you treat these kinds of facial injuries?

A: Treatment depends on the severity of the injury. If it's a laceration, a topical anesthetic and suturing usually suffices. In some facial lacerations, in addition to suturing, I may also use botox injections in order to make the scar look as good as possible. If the injury is a broken bone, an x-ray or CT scan will assist in determining the extent of the break. Some type of X-ray can be very helpful when deciding whether surgery will be involved to repair the damage. For major injuries, I've had to reconstruct someone's cheek or eye socket using bone from another part of their body and titanium plates. That's an extreme case, but it was successful and that patient is now back in sports and headed to college.

Q: What tips would you provide people to prevent these kinds of facial injuries?

A: Definitely use the right equipment that fits the outdoor activity and be a rule-follower when it comes to sports.

-- If you bike, wear a helmet. Don't wear clothing that can interfere with your vision, but do wear a face mask or eye protection if needed.

-- Do not dive in water less than 9 feet deep or in above-ground pools.

-- Avoid uneven or unpaved surfaces when cycling, skateboarding or in-line skating.

-- In baseball, try to not slide head-first.

-- We also want to keep in mind the possibility of concussion. Subtle signs can include irritability, headache and drowsiness. I warn patients and family members to not dismiss or ignore these symptoms when seeking medical attention.

About The Methodist Hospital

The Methodist Hospital in Houston is one of the nation's largest private, non-profit general hospitals. Dedicated to providing the highest level of patient care, Methodist has a 90 year legacy of medical breakthroughs, such as the world's first multiple-organ transplant in the 1960s, gene therapy for prostate cancer, and the first islet cell transplants in Texas.

Methodist is ranked among the country's top centers in 14 specialties in U.S News & World Report's 2007 America's Best Hospitals issue. The hospital ranked in more specialties than any other hospital in Texas. Methodist is also 10th on FORTUNE's "100 Best Companies to Work For" in 2008.

Methodist is primarily affiliated with Weill Cornell Medical College and New York Presbyterian Hospital, two of the nation's leading centers for patient care, medical education and research. Methodist also is affiliated with the University of Houston.

Methodist Hospital, Houston
6565 Fannin St.
Houston, TX 77030
United States
http://www.methodisthealth.com