In this issue:
- Back-to-school sports trigger increase in injuries
- Concussion guides and care plans now available
- LIFE clinic follows children with congenital anomalies
- UCSF Pediatric Musculoskeletal Conference for Primary Care Providers slated for June 25
Back-to-School Sports Trigger Increase in Injuries
With school athletic programs starting up again, physicians are seeing an increase in sports-related injuries in children and teens. Traumatic injuries, especially of the knee, have skyrocketed to a rate much higher than that of pre-pandemic levels.
Here are some tips to o?er parents about supporting their kids’ e?orts to return to sports:
- Tailor the pace. Encourage parents and families to assess their children’s degree of activity during the pandemic, and then plan their participation at an appropriate pace.
- Take the time. Advise families that it could take four to six weeks for a student athlete to get back into pre-pandemic condition, and urge them to ramp up slowly. Coaches can help with ?tness assessments.
- Seek help. Tell the kids to use pain as a cue for when to see a doctor. If they’re sore or in pain but it goes away in a day or two, there’s probably no need for concern. But if they have pain during the activity, or if it doesn’t go away, they should see a physician.
The pediatric orthopaedic surgeons, physical therapists and athletic trainers at UCSF Benio? Children’s Hospitals are available to answer questions about helping young people return to sports, and to care for traumatic injuries. Call (8?77) 82?2?44?53 or (87?7) UC?CHILD to be connected to a clinical team member, or see our website for more information.
Concussion Guides and Care Plans Now Available
New and updated concussion educational guides are available for physicians and their patients. These guides were prepared with input from specialists in pediatric medicine, neurotrauma, emergency medicine, critical care and sports medicine.
- Download the guides here (under “Patient & physician resources”) for in-o?ce use or as handouts for families.
- Guides are available in English and Spanish.
There are three guides:
- Infant and Toddler Concussion Guide: For kids under 5 years old.
- Concussion Educational Guide: For kids 5 years and older.
- Concussion/Traumatic Brain Injury Care Plan: A plan for pediatricians and families of children 5 years and older as they progress through concussion recovery. This document describes important “Return to Learn” and “Return to Play” protocols.
For assistance managing concussion patients who were treated at UCSF Benio? Children’s Hospitals, call (87?7) 822?44?53 or (87?7) UC?CHILD. A concussion resource person will connect callers with the appropriate clinician.
LIFE Clinic: Ongoing Oversight for Children with Congenital Anomalies
The Long-term Infant to Adult Follow-up and Evaluation (LIFE) clinic coordinates multidisciplinary care for children with congenital anomalies that require surgery. Many of these children have chronic issues that need attention by many subspecialists.
LIFE team members serve as a bridge to community pediatricians, o?ering:
- Convenience and ease of access to numerous services through one entry point
- Individualized care plans that tap into appropriate services and support
The care team includes dedicated specialists in:
- Feeding therapy
- Pediatric surgery
- Pediatric dietetics
- Social work
Please visit the LIFE Program’s website for additional details about the conditions we see and the interventions we o?er. For more information or to refer a patient, please contact Mary Kate Klarich, NP, program coordinator, at (4?15) 476?97?17.
Reminder: Register now for the UCSF Pediatric Musculoskeletal Conference for Primary Care Providers – a virtual conference to be held June 25. To learn more, visit http://tiny.ucsf.edu/PedsMSK.
