The complexities of safely returning adolescents to sports following injury is a topic that continues to challenge healthcare professionals, especially given the range of injuries young athletes experience.
In this morning’s Panel Session, "Return to Sports after Injury" (11:30 am in Room 22 Exhibit Level North), co-moderators Shelly D. Timmons, MD, FACS, and Claudia N. Emami, MD, FACS, will lead a discussion with top experts about the ramifications of returning to play after various types of injuries, including brain, spine, orthopaedic, and abdominal. The presenters will review current data, offer evidence-based insights and practical recommendations for healthcare professionals faced with managing these injuries, and highlight the nuances of decision-making when it comes to returning an injured adolescent to sport.
Attendees also will have the chance to participate in an open forum, allowing them to share experiences from their own practices and ask questions. Importantly, the interactive aspect of the session is designed to foster discussion and collaboration among clinicians across various fields.
Trends in Injury Types, Innovations in Recovery Methods
One of the key elements to listen for during the session is the discussion surrounding trends in injury types and innovations in recovery methods.
“Interestingly, these types of injuries, and therefore questions about when it is safe to return to play, are very commonplace. But there are little data on incidence or trends,” said Dr. Timmons. “While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) tracks sports- and recreation-related traumatic brain injuries (TBI) in youth, these datasets are limited to those seeking care in hospitals.”
According to Dr. Timmons, trends in solid organ injuries are followed in trauma centers but many of the injuries likely are treated in non-trauma centers. And since spinal strains, concussions, and orthopaedic injuries often are treated in outpatient clinics without hospital admissions, there is no standardized way to track them, and thus, they are not being captured in any national databases. Even the hospital admissions departments lack a central repository, she added.
“There has been a lot of discussion about whether the incidence of adolescent sports-related TBI really has been increasing, or just suspected, assessed, and reported more often with an increase in awareness,” said Dr. Timmons.
This presents a significant challenge for healthcare professionals, as decisions regarding an athlete’s return to sports often have to be made without robust evidence or trend data. The speakers will dig into just this—clearance protocols and decision-making strategies, especially when solid data are lacking.
Challenges and Controversies in Return-to-Sport Decisions
“The main challenges are lack of data and standardized reporting mechanisms, and the ubiquity of injuries without evidentiary bases for decision-making. This is changing and is an area ripe for future investigation,” said Dr. Timmons.
The session will address key controversies, particularly surrounding TBIs, such as the long-term impact of repetitive sub-concussive blows—impacts to the head that do not result in a diagnosed concussion but may still contribute to long-term damage. There also are ongoing debates about how to manage athletes who have experienced multiple TBIs.
Dr. Timmons explained that questions persist about whether, when, and for how long young athletes should forego certain activities, and after what degree of severity of injury, and how best to communicate with minor patients and their families about the risks and benefits of returning to sports after injury. Experts will weigh in on these issues, in addition to discussing when to advise an athlete to retire from contact sports after repeated injuries, and how to assess the severity and long-term impact of these injuries.
Why Surgeons Should Attend
Surgeons from various specialties will find this session relevant and highly impactful. Adolescents frequently present with injuries that fall under the scope of neurosurgery, orthopaedic surgery, trauma surgery, and pediatric surgery, and determining the proper return-to-sport timeline is a common, yet complicated decision. Attending this session will give all surgeons a deeper understanding of the evidence—or gaps in evidence—that inform these decisions, allowing them to improve the care they may provide for young athletes.
Also, Dr. Timmons shared that surgeons are often asked by patients, families, or colleagues for advice on sports-related injuries, even those outside their specialty. This multidisciplinary exploration—with expert panels, practical recommendations, and open discussions—will provide a broad perspective on the management of these injuries across different fields, ensuring that attendees leave with a well-rounded understanding of current best practices.
The session will be available for on-demand viewing shortly after the live presentation.
