Anatomy: The eye is protected by the eyelid. An eye nerve runs from the back of each eye to the brain. The visual centre of the brain is located in the rear part of the brain.

Cause: Visual disturbance following a blow to the eye can be due to an injury to the eyeball, optic nerve or the brain.

Symptoms: Visual disturbance in the form of double vision, blurred vision, loss of visual field, newly arisen spots in front of the eyes, pain, bleeding on the outer part of the eyeball (both in the white (conjunctiva) and the anterior chamber of the eye at the pupil (hyphaema)), change in the shape of the pupil as well as stinging and irritation sensations in the eye (article-1),(article-2).

Examination: In all cases where the visual disturbance does not slowly disappear, with bleeding in the anterior chamber (hyphaema), and with loss of visual field, medical examination should be performed (possibly by specialist eye doctor) at the earliest opportunity.

Treatment: Treatment usually consists of rest and relief. Some serious eye injuries can require medicinal (rarely surgical) treatment.

Rehabilitation: Normal sports activity can usually be resumed as soon as the symptoms have disappeared.
Also read Rehabilitation of children and adolescents in general.

Prevention: More widespread use of helmets in different sports will unquestionably reduce the number of eye injuries.

Anatomy: Milk teeth are replaced in childhood, where the permanent teeth appear. The front teeth are usually replaced in the 6-8 year age group.

Cause: Direct blows to the teeth can cause the teeth to fracture, fall out or cause damage to the blood supply to the tooth bringing about permanent damage.

Symptoms: Loose teeth, bleeding from the gums, pain in the tooth.

Examination: Examination by a dentist should be performed in all cases where the tooth is knocked out, loose or crooked. The results of the treatment are directly dependent upon how quickly you can be examined.

Treatment: If the tooth is knocked out you should try to put it in place again or keep it in a moist environment, most favourably in salt water (one teaspoon cooking salt in one litre water) or second best in the mouth under the tongue (not children or unconscious persons) or in a handkerchief made moist with saliva to avoid drying out. You should seek acute dental assistance. The dentist can attempt to replace the tooth so that it can re-attach itself. The chances of good results are reduced for each hour which elapses before reaching the dentist.

Rehabilitation: Normal sports activity can be resumed within a short space of time.
Also read Rehabilitation of children and adolescents in general.

Special: Preventive mouth guards significantly reduce the risk of dental injury. It is recommended to utilise mouth guards in a wide variety of sports (contact sports). Resumption of contact sports following a dental injury requiring treatment should be delayed until the tooth has attached itself again in order to avoid possible blows to the tooth in the re-attachment phase (article-1), (article-2). All dental injuries should be reported to your insurance company.

Anatomy: It is only the top of the bridge of the nose, close to the skull, that consists of bone (nasal bone). The remainder of the bridge of the nose consists of cartilage (nasal septum).

Cause: A nosebleed usually occurs following a direct blow to the nose.

Symptoms: Bleeding from the nose. In some cases the blow starting the nosebleed can cause other injuries, (fracture of the nasal bone or concussion of the brain).

Examination: A nosebleed does not usually require medical attention. You should, however, ensure that the nasal septum is correctly positioned. If the blow has been particularly hard and there is general malaise or pronounced tenderness, the patient should be attended to by a doctor.

Treatment: Almost all nosebleeds will stop if the whole of the nose that is comprised of cartilage is squeezed for 5 minutes (time should be taken). It is in other words not sufficient merely to press the lower part of the nostrils together. It is recommended to stand or sit under the treatment. Ice can be placed over the bridge of the nose. The bleeding can be made to stop by packing the nose with cotton wool or gauze. An ear, nose and throat specialist should be consulted if the bleeding occurs repeatedly without a blow, as some cases can be treated by cauterising or burning a blood vessel in the nose. Only very rare cases require hospitalization (article).

Rehabilitation of children and adolescents: The sports activity can be resumed as soon as the bleeding has ceased if no other symptoms are in evidence.

Anatomy: The brain is surrounded by the membrane of the brain (meninx) and protected by the cranial bones.

Cause: With a violent blow or shaking of the head, the brain can collide against the cranial bones with such a force that bleeding can occur, or fluids can seep, on to or in to the surface of the brain.

Symptoms: Headache, general uneasiness, nausea, visual disturbance, drowsiness, increasing remoteness, unconsciousness, convulsions and in worst case, death, (article). In the rare cases where a fatality occurs in sport due to a blow to the head, it is often caused by incurring two head injuries in the same match.

Examination: All athletes who receive a blow to the head and subsequently complain of uneasiness, visual disturbance or haziness should immediately cease further sport and undergo medical examination. All head injuries must be taken very seriously! (article).

Treatment: Rest and relief until the symptoms have abated (article). It is naturally highly inappropriate, and can be extremely hazardous, to take head ache pills in order to continue sports activity.

Rehabilitation of children and adolescents: Rest and relief until the symptoms have abated. Training can subsequently be cautiously resumed, but should be stopped immediately if symptoms are experienced again (for example head ache).
See: Rehabilitation of children and adolescents in general.

Special: More widespread use of helmets in different sports will unquestionably reduce the number of concussions and after effects thereof. It is imperative that athletes with head injuries which have brought about groggy moments are removed from the sports activity and not permitted to resume until the symptoms have gone during the following days (article 1), (article 2).

Anatomy: It is only the upper part of the bridge of the nose, close to the cranium, which actually comprises bone (nasal bone). The remainder of the bridge of the nose is made of cartilage (nasal septum).

Cause: Direct blows to the nose can cause a fracture of the nasal bone. A dislocation of the nasal septum can also occur.

Symptoms: Pain and swelling of the bridge of the nose. In the event of fracture the upper part of the nasal bone will be tender when applying pressure. If there is an accompanying head-ache, or a general feeling of being unwell, the possibility of concussion must be considered. Rare cases can cause bleeding in the nasal septum, bringing about swelling and causing the nose to be blocked (requires acute medical treatment).

Acute treatment: Click here.

Examination: All athletes who receive a blow to the head and subsequently complain of uneasiness, visual disturbance or haziness should immediately cease further sport and undergo medical examination. All head injuries must be taken very seriously! If the pain is purely localised to the nose, and there are free airways through both nostrils, a medical examination should be performed if the nose still appears crooked after three days. Urgent medical attention should be sought if the nasal septum swells and blocks one or both nostrils. X-ray examination of the nose is almost never recommended. The patient will be referred to a specialist ear, nose & throat doctor if there are any suspicions of a fracture of the nasal bone.

Treatment: The fracture will be re-placed and fixed if the fracture has caused the nose to be crooked. Fractures of the nasal bone where the nose does not become crooked are treated with rest and relief until the pain abates. Contact sport can usually be resumed after approximately four weeks.

Rehabilitation of children and adolescents: Rest and relief until the symptoms have abated. Training can subsequently be cautiously resumed, but should be stopped immediately if concussion symptoms are experienced again (for example head-ache). See Rehabilitation of children and adolescents in general.

Bandage: Special facial bandages can be manufactured for use with a fracture of the nasal bone which will allow a speedier resumption of sports activity (article-1), (article-2).