They’re just kids, any parent certainly knows. Sure, those bumps and bruises – especially facial fractures like broken noses and jaws – are common among children. But, you should know those same injuries that children get by way of sports and other physical activities are potentially serious.
Researchers analyzed children and adolescents with sports-related fractures seen at hospital emergency rooms over a five-year period and found about 80 percent were boys and nearly two-thirds were between 12 and 15 years-old. Not surprisingly, of all the facial fractures, 10.6 percent were sports-related. Furthermore, nasal fractures accounted for about 40 percent of the injuries
Although the injuries were not critical many were quite serious, with an estimated 45 percent of the patients being hospitalized, including 15 percent admitted to the intensive care unit. Approximately 45 percent of fractures occurred when the child was hit by a ball — most often when attempting to catch it. Collisions with another player were the second most common cause, 24.5 percent; followed by falls, about 19 percent.
What Does This Mean?
That’s a lot of broken noses and, clearly, sports injuries are common. Yet sport-specific fractures may provide lessons for prevention. Parents should take note that 44 percent of the facial fractures were sustained from baseball or softball activities. Basketball and football were less common, only accounting for 10 percent of the cases.
The study is one of the few to focus on sports-related facial fractures in children. Researchers hope the findings will serve as a resource for plastic surgeons, emergency department personnel and others who evaluate and treat young athletes with facial fractures.
No one is suggesting that parents hide footballs and baseball bats in the attic. But researchers do suggest the data may aid in efforts to prevent facial fractures in young patients and emphasize that proper supervision and the rules of "fair play" may reduce the overall risk of injuries in young athletes.
Accidents Happen
That said, accidents do happen and some – kids, coaches and parents alike – will accept that they are part of the game. But if facial injuries do occur, the good news is that technology in the form of rhinoplasty and nasal reconstruction, laser scar repair, and reconstructive surgery among other techniques can have your child looking as good as new, and back on the field in no time.
In many cases, 3-D digital imaging can show both you and your child the results of facial surgery before anyone sees a scalpel. If your child has suffered an unfortunate injury related to physical activity, be a good sport and contact the Williams Center Plastic Surgery Specialists in Albany, New York, at (800) 742-2797. A pressure-free consultation with Dr. Williams,who specializes in facial procedures and author of newly released book “Rhinoplasty,Everything You Need to Know About Fixing and Reshaping Your Nose can provide you and your child with information on protocols, risks and realistic outcomes that can return your child to that youthful expression that fits their zest for life.
About the Author: Dr. Edwin Williams
Dr. Edwin Williams is a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon who founded The Williams Center in 1993. He has performed over 10,000 facial plastic surgery procedures and has pioneered the deep plane facelift. He served on the Board of Directors for the American Academy of Facial Plastic Surgery for over a decade, and served as President from 2015-2016. In 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019, Dr. Williams earned the Castle Connelly Top Doctors award in New York Facial Plastic Surgery.
Dr. Edwin F. Williams III attended Cornell University in Ithaca, New York where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in 1982. He began medical school at the State University of Buffalo School of Medicine and received his Doctor of Medicine in 1986.
Dr. Williams is actively involved in teaching facial plastic and reconstruction surgery to the residents of the Albany Medical Center and is former Chief of the Section of Facial and Plastic Reconstruction Surgery at Albany Medical Center where he received an academic appointment of Clinical Professor, Department of Surgery.