Football injuries : being a paper read before the Association in 1903 / by R.H. Anglin Whitelocke ; issued by the Medical Officers of Schools Association.

  • Whitelocke, R. H. Anglin (Richard Henry Anglin), 1861-
Date:
1904
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Football injuries : being a paper read before the Association in 1903 / by R.H. Anglin Whitelocke ; issued by the Medical Officers of Schools Association. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    the use of cold or hot applications. Where the blood collects in a cyst as in hsematoma auris (football ear) or under the perios¬ teum as over the anterior surface of the tibia, or in some artificial brusal formations, much time may be saved by making an incision under rigid aseptic principles into the cavity, draw¬ ing off the fluid blood and turning out any existing clots. With ordinary care this is a very safe procedure, and saves much time over the older method of counter-irritation and blistering. Sometimes as much as a fortnight may be gained bv using the open method. The same system of drainage is applicable where a serous cavity, such as the tunica vaginalis in haematocele, is involved. It goes without saying that the most rigid aseptic practice must be followed both at the time and afterwards until the wound is quite healed. Next in frequency to contusions are sprains or strains, muscular as well as articular. In a muscle as in a joint, every order of strain may present itself from the simple over-stretching of its tendon or fascial attachment to partial or complete rupture of the fibres themselves. “ Being out of condition ” is generally the predisposing, while some sudden or clumsy movement supplies the exciting cause. The results are pain, loss of function, with stiffness and swelling from bleeding into the tissues. The treat¬ ment consists of temporary rest to the muscle or group of muscles. This diminishes the pain, which is, however, generally slight, and also limits the effusion. In the slighter cases nothing is required but strapping to sup¬ port the muscle or its tendon, and massage or friction over the plaster to assist and expedite the absorption of the effused blood. The patient may be allowed from the very first either to walk or to exercise the limb with a carefully graduated weight and pulley apparatus. Active movement in the case of injuries to muscles is absolutely necessary to prevent atrophy. In cases of complete rupture an open operation may be necessary. The muscles which are most frequently damaged at football are those of the thigh, the hamstrings as well as the quadriceps extensor, and the deltoid. The hamstrings are sometimes torn close to their pelvic attach¬ ment from indirect violence, while the extensors are more fre¬ quently injured at their lower connections. Direct violence, such as a kick, sometimes causes an injury to the muscle fibres them-