Sports are good for health, fitness and serve as a balance to a stressful everyday life. More than 20 million people regularly practice a sport and many of them are involved in a sports club. The German Football Association (DFB) alone has over 6.8 million people registered as members. Sporting activity promotes strength and exercise for young and old alike, but despite precautions, accidents can occur during sports that result in serious injuries. The sports in which most accidents occur are soccer, handball and volleyball. Source: North Rhine-Westphalia State Center for Health.
Frequency and incidence of sports accidents
Skiing accidents can be very dangerous. Most often, they happen in areas with poor access. Snow-covered tree stumps and rocks can become a deadly trap. There are more than 1.5 million sports accidents in Germany every year, some of which leave those affected with consequential damage and further stress. The ankle or knee joints are often affected, but also the head, hands and lower legs. Although many runners suffer fewer injuries and accidents than soccer players, the so-called overfatigue fractures are particularly common among them, especially in the tibia, metatarsals, femur, fibula, pelvis and arms. For more information, see the article “Fatigue fracture (fatigue fracture)”. Among the sports with the most bone fractures are winter sports, and whether skiing or snowboarding, falls by inexperienced or overconfident amateur and recreational athletes are often the cause of bone fractures. Many of the accidents happen to beginners in the first two days, and many suffer broken bones more often than skilled athletes. High-speed sports such as biking or skating, ball sports with intense physical contact, or individual sports have the most common bone fractures.
First aid for bone fractures
Bone fractures cannot always be detected immediately, except in the case of open fractures. Yet there are many more ways to damage a bone, which can be found in Germany under the AO classification.
- Type A: simple fracture
- Type B: wedge fracture
- Type C: complex fracture
Complex fractures include, for example, a comminuted fracture in which more than six fragments are broken. Furthermore, doctors divide the fractures by line, dislocation, fracture shape and type of force. However, some symptoms can be recognized immediately in many fractures. In addition to pain, swelling is present as well as a restriction of movement or the adoption of gentle postures. An unnatural position of the limbs is a further indication of a bone fracture if no clear wounds or open fractures are visible. First, it is important not to move the fracture site and, in the case of an open fracture, to cover the wound, preferably with dressings or disinfected cloths. Especially if spinal injuries are suspected, movement can have serious consequences. However, if there is immediate danger to life from a road or slope, the person should be carefully moved to safety. Helpers can support the immobilization of the affected body part with pillows, rolled blankets or pieces of clothing, which are best wedged in carefully. Arms or hands should be held directly against the body. In the case of closed fractures, cooling with ice packs or cold packs is useful, but these should never be applied directly to the skin, but wrapped in a cloth. In addition to wound treatment, first responders should pay attention to the victim and combat possible shock. This requires elevated positioning of the legs to allow blood to flow to the brain and vital organs. Helpers can recognize a shock by the following symptoms of the affected person:
- Fear, restlessness
- Paleness
- Freezing or shivering
- Sweaty skin
- Apathy or loss of consciousness
If the victim is unconscious, rescuers should place him in the recovery position. The DRK explains the procedure in this video:
Even if there is a suspicion of fractures, if the person is unconscious, the helping persons on site should not abandon the side position to keep the airways clear. There are now even various apps for smartphones that can help with first aid.Under no circumstances should helpers reset or set bones themselves, give the casualty drinks, medication or food and leave him or her to fend for themselves until the emergency services arrive. Because the accident occurs during physical activity, bystanders should ensure that the injured person has adequate thermal protection, otherwise many athletes can become hypothermic.
Insurance and coverage in clubs and for amateur athletes
Many hobby and recreational athletes do not know what costs are covered by health insurance and what follow-up costs can come to them. Those who are active in sports in a club are already covered by their sports club. In most cases, this is through the state sports federation, which has taken out group insurance for the clubs. This includes accident insurance, liability insurance and sometimes legal expenses insurance. The insurance includes accidents during sports practice, but also in locker rooms and on the way to and from the club premises. However, the insurances do not cover all costs, especially high consequential costs are often not included in the insurance coverage. Those who are without a club should adjust their insurance coverage well, since the athlete is also liable for injuries and damages to others. The own health insurance takes over the costs for the treatment, but possible subsequent costs are usually not involved. Occupational disability insurance, for example, is of interest to high-performance athletes or people who play a lot of sports, while private accident insurance can cover specific risk situations. At verivox.de, there are more details on liability, scope and claim in the case of sports accidents and especially fractures. Furthermore, tips for prevention are listed, such as avoiding cigarettes and taking calcium for strong and healthy bones.
Treatment and prevention
Bicycle accidents often seem harmless, but depending on the speed and surface, they can involve significant injuries. A bicycle helmet can protect here especially the head from shocks. In most cases, bone fractures result in immobilization until the affected fracture has grown back together. A plaster cast is the conventional and proven treatment, which usually has to be worn for several weeks. X-rays show the bone fractures and healing well, and in complicated fractures, computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging is also performed to detect any affected soft tissues. Bone fractures can be treated with the following three principles:
- Setup (reduction)
- Immobilization (immobilization)
- Pressure on the fracture site (compression)
A cast is not always part of the therapy, for example, in fractures of finger or metacarpal bones. In surgical therapy, splints are then used and light weight-bearing exercises. Example of a course of treatment after surgery:
| 1st day | Dressing change, drain removal, independent range of motion exercises. |
| Day 3-14 |
Postoperative treatment by orthopedic surgeon or surgeon, after 12-14 days removal of sutures and physiotherapy. |
| 6 weeks | No hand strain such as propping, carrying, prolonged PC work, fine motor and free finger movements possible, slow integration into daily life |
Source: http://www.lubinus-clinicum.de/frakturen.html
Most bone fractures heal very well during this time and only in a few cases complications such as inflammation or false joints occur. Especially complicated fractures require a longer healing process. Many athletes want to get back to their hobby very quickly, but especially in the case of foot injuries such as an ankle fracture, the affected individuals should only slowly increase the load again and rebuild the muscles. One of the most important points in preventing sports injuries is to warm up thoroughly. Strains, falls and accidents can be prevented by warming up the muscles, because this allows them to meet the demands of the sport and react quickly enough to the movements. In addition, learning the right technique for skiing or snowboarding, for example, and protecting against injuries with helmets and protective clothing.In addition, amateur athletes should not overexert themselves and should always adapt their training to their current fitness level.
