Sprained ligaments in children

Sprained ligaments in children are the most common injury that limits movement. Let's consider the causes of the pathology, ways to prevent and treat it.

Ligaments perform the function of strengthening joints. Despite their strength, with increased loads or sudden movements, ligaments are subject to stretching and ruptures, that is, various types of damage. Ligaments consist of blood vessels and nerve fibers, which is why pain and swelling appear when stretched. Stretching can cause a partial or complete rupture.

Ligament injuries in children occur due to increased activity. And this is not surprising, since as soon as a child begins to crawl and walk, various injuries appear, including sprains. Most often, children are diagnosed with injuries in the elbow, ankle or knee joints.

Causes of sprains in children

The causes of ligament sprains in children are associated with increased mechanical load, for example, with sudden movements of the joints. Injuries occur due to the excess of the normal amplitude of movement, which does not correspond to the physiological one. Based on this, we can say that sprains are excessive tension and rupture of individual fibers. Pathology can occur in one or several ligaments at once. Severe injuries lead not only to sprains, but also to complete ruptures of the ligaments, which entails their traumatic detachment from the bone.

The main causes of ligament sprains in children are various injuries, sudden movements, dislocations, falls and much more. All the above-described reasons lead to the fact that the joint comes out of its normal position and the ligament supporting it stretches and tears due to the heavy load. This whole process causes severe acute pain in the child. But in some cases, the baby does not feel discomfort and continues to move, injuring the ligaments even more. After a few hours, increased pain, swelling and joint function are impaired in the area of damage.

There are several degrees of ligament stretching, let's look at them:

1. A small section of the ligament was damaged. In this case, for a full recovery, the child needs to rest and not subject the joint to further injury.
2. A partial rupture of the ligament causes swelling, severe acute pain, and hematomas and bruises may appear.
3. The last stage is a complete rupture of the ligament, which is accompanied by severe pain and swelling. If the pathology occurs in the ankle joint, the child cannot step on the injured limb. As a rule, this joint is subject to frequent dislocations and sprains.

Symptoms of a sprained ligament in a child

Symptoms of sprains in children cause a number of painful sensations. Some time after the injury, dysfunction of the joint may occur. But painless sprains are especially dangerous, as they entail further injury to the ligaments and joint. That is, the main symptom of sprains is acute pain. In this case, the task of parents is to calm the baby and immobilize the injured limb. If tissue swelling begins to increase after a while, then medical assistance is needed.

• Stretching of the knee joint, foot or shin ligaments not only causes pain, but also makes it impossible to move the limb. When the ligaments of the cervical spine are injured, the child cannot move his head, and may complain of severe headaches and numbness in the fingers.
• Swelling occurs at the site of the sprain. Swelling may appear immediately after the injury or increase gradually.
• After a while, a hematoma appears at the site of the swelling, usually a couple of hours after the injury. General malaise is possible, and in the area of the swelling and hematoma, a local increase in temperature.

If the sprain is moderate, then it is necessary to spare the injured joint. If the ligament is completely torn, then pathological mobility of the joint is observed. In this case, immobilization and application of a plaster cast or splint for 10-20 days are necessary. Very often, the symptoms of a sprain are confused with the symptoms of a dislocation and even a fracture. There are a number of signs that allow you to differentiate a sprain from a dislocation and a fracture, let's consider them:

• When dislocated, it is impossible to move the joint, severe pain occurs. If the arm is dislocated, the limb may shorten or, on the contrary, lengthen. When stretched, such symptoms do not occur, the child complains of pain, swelling and hematomas.
• A fracture causes a disruption of the integrity of bone tissue, but fractures in children are very rare. A fracture, like a sprain, causes severe pain, which intensifies when trying to move the joint, as well as swelling.

Ankle sprain in a child

Ankle sprains in children are very rare, as the child's joint ligaments are elastic and flexible. But sprains can occur as a result of mechanical damage. If such a pathology is diagnosed in adolescents, the cause may be wearing uncomfortable shoes.

Ligament sprains in pediatric patients can occur due to high sports loads on joints, congenital foot pathologies, obesity, various types of injuries and some diseases (arthritis, arthrosis, metabolic disorders, bone and joint defects). All this leads to the leg twisting when walking, injuring the ankle joint.

The outcome of the pathology depends on the effectiveness of the treatment and the first medical aid provided. The first thing to do is to relieve the damaged joint from the load as much as possible and apply a splint or fixing bandage. It is best to apply ice or a cooling compress to the site of the sprain, this will reduce pain and swelling. If the child has a complex sprain, then medical assistance and painkillers will be required.

Sprained foot in a child

Sprains of the foot ligaments in children are very rare, since the ankle joint and Achilles tendon are subject to sprains in case of injuries and falls. But there are several joints of bones in the foot that have a tendon capsule and consist of ligaments, due to which they are attached to the muscles. As a rule, sprains occur in the ligaments of the subtalar, metatarsal, calcaneal-navicular and interphalangeal joints. All these elements are responsible for the supination of the foot when walking, jumping, running and other movements.

Sprains of the foot ligaments in children occur due to unusual and pathological positions of the foot during movement. When wearing the wrong shoes (from an orthopedic point of view), training in the wrong shoes, flat feet and clubfoot, excess body weight or excessive tension of the foot muscles during physical activity. Very often, injuries in children occur due to attempts to walk on tiptoes, stretching the foot and placing it on the outer or inner edge.

Symptoms of a sprained foot:

• Severe pain without limitation of mobility in the joint area.
• Pathology of the ligaments of the foot can be associated with trauma to the ankle. This is a fairly common injury that affects the entire large joint responsible for the mobility of the foot.
• If a severe ligament rupture occurs, slight swelling and bruising will occur.

In any case, if a child's foot is injured, it is necessary to seek immediate medical help. It is very important to make sure that there are no more serious injuries that require surgical intervention before starting treatment. The task of doctors is to differentiate sprains from fractures and cracks. Treatment begins with immobilization of the injured limb. For these purposes, splints, fixing bandages or plaster are used.

The recovery period takes 5-10 days. During this time, the pain and swelling completely disappear and the hematomas resolve. But this is not the end of the treatment, it is necessary to limit physical activity and use a fixing support. To speed up the rehabilitation process, the child may be prescribed therapeutic massage, physiotherapy or reflexology.

Sprained arm in a child

Sprained ligaments of the hand in a child are common. And this is not surprising, since as a result of various types of injuries and falls, not only muscles, ligaments or joints can be damaged, but also the bones of the hand. The hands and wrists consist of ligaments, tendons and many small bones. Each of the structures performs certain functions and it is due to the coordinated work of the bone-ligament apparatus that the hands can perform various movements.

When the ligaments in the arm are stretched, the supporting function performed by the ligaments is disrupted. The child complains of acute pain, swelling and redness of the arm. The main causes of stretching in children are sudden movements, mechanical injuries, falls. As a rule, ligaments are damaged due to increased activity of children. Signs of stretching look standard for this type of injury. First of all, this is limited movement in the damaged joint, pain, swelling. If a complete ligament rupture occurs, the joint begins to move without restrictions.

At the first symptoms of a sprained arm in a child, parents should immobilize the injured limb. An elastic bandage or any fixing bandage will do for this purpose. To relieve pain and prevent swelling, it is better to apply a cold compress to the injured area. But sprains should not end with self-medication, since it is quite possible that the injury is serious and the child will need medical attention.

There are a number of symptoms that indicate that a sprained arm should be treated by a doctor:

• Acute, prolonged pain in the damaged joint (more than 3-5 days), causing restrictions of its movement.
• General weakness and dizziness appear.
• The skin over the joint becomes red and a local increase in temperature is noted.

In case of severe sprains, treatment is carried out in a hospital setting. The child will undergo surgical intervention and fixation of the joint with plaster. If several ligaments are torn, the duration of treatment can be several months. If the sprain is mild or moderate, the recovery period lasts 10-15 days. The doctor prescribes anti-inflammatory ointments for the child to relieve swelling and pain. Warming physiotherapy procedures and, of course, therapeutic exercises can be used for a speedy recovery.

Neck sprains in children

Neck sprains in children are not common, but if they do occur, they cause terrible panic in parents. And there is an explanation for this, since the child begins to cry from severe pain at the slightest attempt to turn his head, and the neck becomes motionless. The cervical spine consists of vertebrae (7 pieces), which perform a protective function, protecting the spinal cord from injury and damage. Since even the slightest pressure can lead to paralysis, and a fall or sudden movement can cause sprains.

The main causes of neck sprains in pediatric patients are active sports games, uncomfortable sleeping positions, physical activity and various types of injuries, accidents. Since neck sprains can occur in children of any age, parents should know the main symptoms of the pathology, since not all children can clearly explain what hurts them:

• Swelling in the neck area and pain.
• Lethargy, loss of mobility.
• Unnatural head position.
• Loss of consciousness is possible immediately after receiving an injury.

If the above symptoms appear, you should immediately seek medical help. In order to reduce the pain, you can give the child Ibuprofen or Paracetamol tablets. It is recommended to apply a cold compress to the sore area, but not longer than 20 minutes. The doctor will prescribe warm baths and a relaxing massage for the child to restore the ligaments. As a rule, the pain lasts about three days.

Diagnosis of sprained ligaments in a child

Diagnosis of ligament sprains in a child begins with collecting anamnesis. The doctor asks the parents and the child about the cause of the sprain and the location of the painful sensations. Stretched ligaments and muscles must be returned to normal. If this is not done, scars appear on the surface of the muscle tissue, which interfere with the normal functioning of the joint or organ.

The examination uses palpation and X-ray diagnostics. Depending on the location of the stretch, magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound examination can be used.

[ 1 ], [ 2 ]

Treatment of sprained ligaments in a child

Treatment of sprains in children is based on the location of the injury. Timely first aid will prevent the development of serious consequences and facilitate further treatment. That is why parents should know about the methods of first aid.

• After an injury, the injured limb must be immobilized; if the neck ligaments have been sprained, it is better to lay the child down and ensure immobility.
• Ice or a cold compress is applied to the site of the sprain to relieve swelling and pain.
• A fixing bandage is applied to the damaged joint (for the ankle, foot and hand).
• In case of severe pain, it is recommended to give the child a pain reliever, according to the age-appropriate dosage, and seek medical help.

Such first aid should be provided at any degree of sprain. If the child has a second or third degree sprain, physiotherapy is used for treatment. Therapy can be done at any clinic as prescribed by a doctor. As soon as the swelling goes down, the child needs to do a special massage and a set of exercises for a speedy recovery. Physiotherapy depends on the age of the child and the nature of the injury. In case of severe sprains, when abnormal joint mobility appears, a splint or plaster cast is required. In this case, the child is prescribed ointments with anti-inflammatory components and painkillers.

Prevention of sprains in children

Prevention of sprains in children consists of maintaining maximum safety during sports, active games and any kind of physical activity. If the child has already suffered a sprain, parents should remember the age restrictions when playing sports. This applies to severe sprains. It is mandatory to perform a set of rehabilitation and preventive exercises that will strengthen the child's musculoskeletal system.

Don't forget about the diet. The baby's diet should include a lot of fresh vegetables and fruits, meat and dairy products. It would not be superfluous to take vitamin and mineral complexes to maintain normal calcium levels in the body.

Prognosis for sprains in children

The prognosis for a child's ligament sprain depends on the nature of the injury and its location. Serious complications are possible if medical care is not provided in a timely manner. Thus, a severe sprain leads to damage to tendons and muscles. A complete rupture of the ligament can lead to cracks and fractures of bones, and regular sprains can lead to weakening of the joints. But most often the prognosis is favorable, since with proper treatment the child's body quickly recovers from the injuries received.

Sprained ligaments in children occur at any age. Active games, sports and various types of mechanical damage can cause injury. But with timely first aid and rehabilitation measures, the health of the ligaments and joints can be completely restored, without any consequences.