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What Is Turf Toe? 7 FAQs About This Common Sports Injury

What Is Turf Toe? 7 FAQs About This Common Sports Injury

by | Nov 6, 2023 | Sports Medicine

A serious condition with a funny-sounding name, turf toe can sideline aspiring and professional athletes alike. It’s a condition that targets one of an athlete’s most important tools — their feet. Learn how you can identify turf toe in your child and the steps you can take to keep it from ruining their season.

What Is Turf Toe?

In very basic terms, a turf toe injury is a sprain that impacts the big toe’s main joint — the metatarsophalangeal joint. It occurs when the joint gets bent beyond its normal range of motion, leading to stretches or tears in the ligaments, tendons and tissues that hold the joint in place.

What Causes Turf Toe?

Turf toe got its name because it was first seen in football players who play on artificial turf. The firm and less forgiving surface can contribute to strains on the big toe during play.

Nowadays, doctors see this injury in athletes who play any sport that involves running, jumping and other activities that place a lot of strain on the foot and big toe. Those sports include basketball, dance, gymnastics, soccer and wrestling.

In those sports, as with football, footwear can play a role in causing turf toe. Wearing shoes with flexible soles that do not adequately support the big toe joint can increase the risk, whereas stiff-soled shoes offer better protection.

What Are Common Symptoms of Turf Toe?

Common symptoms include:

  • A feeling of instability or weakness in the big toe
  • Bruising
  • Difficulty walking or bearing weight on the affected foot
  • Limited range of motion in the big toe
  • Pain, tenderness, and swelling at the base of the big toe

If your child experiences discomfort or pain in the big toe joint after activity or playing sports, schedule an appointment with a sports medicine specialist. It can take time to recover from turf toe, so treating the condition at the first signs of pain can reduce your child’s time on the sidelines.

Diagnosing turf toe begins with a physical exam. Your child’s doctor will measure the toe’s range of motion and look for signs of tenderness and instability. Your child may have an X-ray to rule out any fractures, but sometimes the doctor will order an MRI scan. This type of imaging provides detailed views of the foot’s soft tissues, helping to confirm the extent of the injury.

How Long Does Turf Toe Take to Heal?

The recovery time for turf toe can vary depending on the severity of the injury and how well it is managed. In general, mild cases of turf toe may heal in a few weeks, while more severe cases can take several months for full recovery. To help your child heal as quickly as possible, follow their treatment plan and doctor’s recommendations.

Treating turf toe typically involves a combination of the following:

  • Rest, ice, compression and elevation, a.k.a. “RICE.” The RICE method starts with letting the joint rest and allowing it to heal. Your child should avoid activities that put strain on the big toe joint. Applying ice, compressing the affected area with a bandage, and elevating the foot can help reduce pain and swelling.
  • Anti-inflammatory medications. Over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications can help manage pain and reduce inflammation, but ask your child’s doctor which medications to use. Aspirin and adult-strength medications may not be safe for your child.
  • Custom orthotics. Depending on your child’s injury and sport, their doctor may recommend custom orthotic inserts to support and protect the big toe.
  • Physical therapy. Physical therapy can restore strength and range of motion in the big toe. A physical therapist can provide exercises and techniques to promote healing and prevent future injuries.

Is It Safe to Walk on Turf Toe?

In mild cases of turf toe, it may be possible to walk with some discomfort, although rest is still recommended. Your child should listen to their body and avoid activities that worsen their pain or discomfort.

What Happens to Untreated Turf Toe?

If left untreated, turf toe can lead to complications and chronic issues, including:

  • Increased pain and discomfort
  • Limited range of motion in the big toe
  • Reduced athletic performance
  • Risk of future injuries or damage to the joint

Can You Prevent Turf Toe From Coming Back?

You can reduce your child’s risk of getting turf toe again by helping them take some simple preventive measures:

  • Wear proper footwear with stiff soles that adequately support the big toe joint.
  • Use orthotic inserts if your child’s doctor recommends them.
  • Practice exercises that strengthen the muscles around the big toe joint to provide additional support.
  • Learn proper running and movement techniques to limit strain on the big toe.

Scottish Rite for Children has the experience necessary to help your child overcome (or prevent) turf toe. Call 469-515-7100 to schedule an appointment with one of our experts.

A Newfound Freedom to Walk

A Newfound Freedom to Walk

by | Nov 6, 2023 | Prosthetics & Orthotics

KaDeyja, of San Antonio, enjoys watching Cocomelon® and listening to her favorite song, “The Wheels on the Bus.” During her physical therapy session at Scottish Rite for Children, this animated music video set the tone, creating a playful atmosphere and soundtrack to a pivotal day in her life. At 16 months old, KaDeyja achieved a milestone that any doting parent would record in a baby book — taking her first step. But for KaDeyja and her parents, this accomplishment was extraordinary.

KaDeyja was born with limb differences affecting her right arm, left hand and both legs. Hand surgeon and Director of the Center for Excellence in Hand, Scott Oishi, M.D., FACS, manages the treatment plan for her hand. Chief of Staff Emeritus J. A. “Tony” Herring, M.D., manages the treatment plan for her legs.
 
“In the beginning, she couldn’t roll over,” Stephanie, her mother, says. Later, she had difficulty sitting up and keeping her balance. “We would prop her up with a Boppy® pillow,” she says. For many months, Stephanie carried her everywhere. Eventually, KaDeyja figured out how to sit up and maneuver on her own by scooting on her bottom.

When KaDeyja was developmentally ready to begin walking, Director of Prosthetics Don Cummings, C.P., L.P., fitted her for two prosthetic legs. And then, the big day arrived. KaDeyja tried out her new legs with assistance from physical therapist Megan Mendoza. Pushing a baby doll in a shopping cart, KaDeyja took one step and then another.
 
“When she took her first step, I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, she’s doing it!’” Stephanie says. “It was very emotional.” With focus and determination, KaDeyja was walking. Every step was a triumph. As the medical team cheered her on, she walked over to each person in the room and gave them a high five.
 
“Scottish Rite for Children has given us hope,” Stephanie says. “It’s a forever kind of journey at Scottish Rite. They are a piece of our family.”
 
Read the full issue.

Groundbreaking Preclinical Study of Perthes Disease

Groundbreaking Preclinical Study of Perthes Disease

by | Nov 3, 2023 | Research & Innovation

Our research team is working to provide a new treatment method for teenage and adolescent patients who are diagnosed with Legg-Calve-Perthes disease.
 
In this groundbreaking preclinical study of Perthes disease, UT Southwestern Medical Center professor of Orthopaedic Surgery Harry Kim, M.D., M.S., et al., discovered a new effective method to speed up and improve healing of the dead bone using a minimally invasive biomaterial. Currently, there is no effective treatment for teenagers and adolescents who develop Perthes disease/femoral head bone death. This new treatment consists of injecting a growth factor, BMP2, within a delivery agent, hydrogel. This allowed for rapid and consistent healing of the dead bone.

Published September 2023 in npj Regenerative Medicine. Read the complete study.

What Happens During Concussion Testing?

What Happens During Concussion Testing?

by | Nov 1, 2023 | Sports Medicine

What Happens During Concussion Testing?

As a parent, ensuring the safety and well-being of your young athlete is a top priority. While injuries are inevitable in sports, one concern that often arises is the risk of concussions. A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury that causes a temporary loss of brain function. These injuries can negatively affect balance, coordination, reflexes and speech, among other skills. 

Concussion testing plays a crucial role in diagnosing and making treatment decisions about a child’s head injury and provides accurate information about your child’s neurological health.

Baseline Concussion Testing With ImPACT

One of the most effective concussion tests your child can have happens before the injury occurs.

A baseline test known as ImPACT measures your child’s memory, reaction times, reasoning skills and abilities in other areas to establish what’s normal for your child. If your child sustains a head injury, specialists can perform the test again. Physicians compare the results to determine if your child has a concussion and, if so, what treatments your child may need.

Your child will take the baseline test online, ideally before the sports season begins. It takes about 20 minutes and asks your child questions appropriate to their age and developmental level. 

The post-injury tests are similar, but if your child is younger than 11, you may need to answer questions about his or her symptoms. A specially trained provider will review the results and provide them to your child’s healthcare team.

Signs Your Child Needs a Concussion Evaluation

Concussions occur following a fall or a blow to the head. The force of the impact shakes the brain, damaging cells and triggering chemical changes. 

It can be difficult to detect a concussion without testing. Some athletes don’t experience symptoms for hours or even days after the event, and kids don’t always think their symptoms are serious enough to sit out the rest of a practice or game.

Contact a sports medicine specialist about an evaluation if your child displays any of the following signs of a concussion immediately or in the days after a head injury: 

·       Acting dazed or stunned 

·       Blurred or double vision 

·       Changes in mood (more anxious, irritable, upset or sad) 

·       Clumsy movements 

·       Confusion 

·       Difficulty concentrating 

·       Dizziness or loss of balance 

·       Fatigue and trouble sleeping 

·       Headaches 

·       Increased sensitivity to light and noise 

·       Slow, slurred speech 

·       Nausea and vomiting 

·       Numbness or weakness in the arms and legs 

Concussion Testing After an Injury 

If your child experienced a head injury, concussion testing helps determine if the event impacted brain function. However, the type of concussion test your child has will depend on the extent of the injury.

Sports medicine physicians use a variety of concussion assessment tools, often starting with a physical exam to review your child’s balance, coordination, hearing, reflexes and vision. 

During a post-injury concussion evaluation, the doctor will ask questions about the injury, including: 

·       What caused it

·       Any signs and symptoms your child has experienced or that you have noticed 

·       Whether or not your child lost consciousness and for how long

Your child’s physician may order imaging tests, such as CT scans and MRIs. These can’t tell you whether your child has had a concussion, but they can reveal bleeding or other injuries resulting from the collision. Bloodwork that checks for proteins associated with mild concussions may also help the physician identify other injuries. 

If your child had a baseline test, he or she will also have a post-injury cognitive test.

Your Child’s Return to School and Play

Depending on the results of the physical exam and post-injury cognitive test, your child’s doctor will begin treatment, which usually focuses on management of concussion symptoms with medication and rest until the concussion fully heals. Kids may need to stay home from school for a few days and gradually return with shorter days, reduced workloads and more break periods.

You’ll want to work with your child’s doctor, school nurse, athletic trainer and coaches to ease your child back on the field or court. Work with the school’s athletic department or local sports organization, as well, because they may have different protocols about when your child can return, even if the doctor clears him or her for participation. 

Accurate concussion evaluation is essential for proper healing and the prevention of further concussions and complications. In addition, following the doctor’s orders about when to return to sports and other activities is critical. If your child participates in sports before a concussion heals and has another injury, he or she may experience severe brain damage. 

Scottish Rite for Children Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Center offers high quality care for concussions and other sports injuries from a dedicated team of sports medicine specialists. Call 469-515-7100 to schedule a baseline testing appointment with one of our athletic trainers and learn more about our concussion program. 

Broken Toe? Treatments Can Help These Small Bones Heal

Broken Toe? Treatments Can Help These Small Bones Heal

by | Oct 30, 2023 | Fractures

Broken toes are a common injury among children, who frequently stub their toes, drop heavy objects on them or close them in doors or cabinets. If your child breaks a toe, you, like many people, may assume nothing can be done. That’s a common misconception. Your child’s provider has many options for treating broken toes, and treatment is less complex than you may think.

Broken toe treatment can reduce your child’s pain and help them get back to being a kid.

Signs Your Child’s Toe May Be Broken

Each toe consists of two or three bones, as well as toe joints. Broken toes can range in severity from small hairline toe fractures to multiple breaks in a bone. 

Symptoms of a broken toe include: 

·       A crooked toe or toe that appears to be out of place 

·       Bruising and swelling, which may appear the day after the injury

·       Difficulty walking

·       Pain at the specific area of injury, also known as pinpoint pain 

·       Stiffness 

If you suspect your child has a broken toe, visit your child’s pediatrician or an urgent care clinic. Visit an emergency room if your child has an open fracture, in which bone has broken through the skin. Open fractures can become infected and need immediate care.

Often, health care providers can diagnose a broken toe with a physical exam. Your child’s provider may order an X-ray to find the exact location of the break and determine whether the toe is dislocated.

How to Treat a Broken Toe

Broken big toes and severe fractures may require casting and, rarely, surgery. However, most broken toes will heal with at-home care or basic medical treatments. Your child’s provider will likely recommend one of the following:

·       Rest. Your child will need to avoid putting unnecessary weight on the injured toe. Elevating the foot on a pillow can help with swelling.

·       Ice. Ice packs can also reduce swelling when placed on a broken toe for 10 to 20 minutes every one to two hours. Apply ice for three days or until the toe is no longer swollen.

·       Over-the-counter pain relievers. Acetaminophen (Tylenol®) and ibuprofen (Advil® or Motrin®) can reduce pain but follow dosing instructions closely. Do not give children aspirin unless their provider says it’s OK. Aspirin can increase the risk of Reye syndrome. 

·       Proper footwear. If your child needs to wear shoes, have them choose a wide, stiff-bottomed shoe that doesn’t put pressure on the injured toe but also keeps it in proper alignment. Depending on the extent of the fracture, your child’s provider may recommend a special boot while the toe heals.

·       Splinting. Your child’s provider may recommend a toe splint to hold the broken toe in place as it heals.

·       Taping. A common treatment known as buddy taping involves taping the injured toe to the healthy toe next to it. It’s not always helpful, so ask your provider first. The provider can also show you how to tape the toe properly.

Children shouldn’t walk on the toe until they can put pressure on it without feeling a lot of pain. Also, attend follow-up visits if you have them. Your child’s provider will examine the toe to ensure it is healing properly. 

Broken toes may need six to eight weeks to heal, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, so be patient. 

Call your child’s provider if your child has any of these symptoms as the toe heals: 

·       Fever or chills, which could be signs of an infection

·       Tingling or numbness in the toe

·       Pain or swelling that gets worse, not better

·       Red streaks appearing on the foot or toe

Can a Broken Toe Heal on Its Own?

Broken toes can heal on their own, but treatment helps ensure better outcomes. Left untreated, broken toes may heal crooked, your child could develop chronic foot pain or he or she may have problems walking. 

Broken Toe vs. Stress Fracture

Active children and children who play sports may think they have a broken toe when they actually have an overuse injury. Activities that involve repetitive motions, such as running, or place significant force on the feet, such as basketball, can cause stress fractures, a type of overuse injury in which small cracks or painful bruising develop in the bones.

The ball of the foot has two small bones called sesamoids located below the big toe joint. Overuse can lead to a sesamoid stress fracture, which can cause pain and swelling near the base of the big toe. A sports medicine specialist can diagnose and treat these stress fractures and help your child prevent another overuse injury.

If you’ve visited an urgent care or emergency room and your child has a confirmed fracture, bring your child’s X-rays to our walk-in Fracture Clinic for help. The clinic is located at 5700 Dallas Parkway in Frisco and open from 7:30 – 9:30 a.m., Monday through Friday. For suspected fractures, schedule an appointment by calling 469-515-7200.