Cutting out medical jargon in treatment of sports injuries

ANEW sports injury manual, which has been co-written by a Galway-based Orthopaedics’ surgeon, is proving an invaluable source of information for doctors, physiotherapists, coaches and, indeed, parents in managing sports injuries.

Entitled ‘Sports Emergencies – Management Scenarios’, the book is the collective work of Galway surgeon, Mr. Brian M. Devitt, Specialist Registrar in Orthopaedics at UHG and Merlin Park, and Professor of Orthopaedics at the Royal College of Surgeons, John M. O’Byrne.

The book, itself, is a quick, easily accessible colour reference guide on how to manage an emergency on the sports field, with the manual aiming to allay anxieties by providing clear instructions on what to do and, just as importantly, what not to do in a given sports emergency.Indeed, the advantages of the book is that it is produced in pocket format with flexi cover so it can be easily carried around in the First Aid box or in a physio’s pouch; it offers step-by-step instructions; and it is clear and concise in its delivery.

According to Devitt, the idea for the book was originally conceived by his co-author, Prof. John O’Byrne, who is the Republic of Ireland’s team surgeon. “He (O’Byrne) was conscious on the pitch that when they were doing basic life support, they needed to have very clear guidelines on what to do,” says Devitt.

“So, they made their own laminated sheet on how to manage, for instance, a cardiac arrest. One person would be responsible for cutting the jersey off; another would be responsible for wiping down the chest; and another would be responsible for putting the paddles on. So, they wrote those instructions down.”

The seed was sown and over the following months and years, the premise of the book was expanded to include the treatment of more and more injuries. “I was doing research for him at the time, so he asked me would I get involved. I said I would gladly take on the role,” says the Dublin native, particularly as it allowed him to marry his own sporting background with his chosen vocation.

Having qualified from UCD in 2001, Devitt completed his surgical training in Cork between 2002 and 2004. During this time, he also undertook a Masters in Sport and Exercise Medicine. “When I was doing my Masters down there I became acutely aware that there was nothing out there to manage the injuries on the field of play. So, I went into orthopaedics.”

The fact that the talented surgeon hailed from a sporting background no doubt helped, having played AIL Division 1 rugby with Clontarf for a number of seasons. “When you are a medical student, you are always asked onto the pitch, even though I was not fully qualified. But, as I became a doctor, I learned a bit more. So, that was what kind of prompted me to do the Masters in the first place.

“After that, I was interested in learning a bit more about injuries. Then, on a personal level, I did some work with the IRFU, when I came back to Dublin in 2004. I worked as a team doctor for the Irish amateur international team first, in 2006, and then I went on to become the team doctor for the Irish U-20s team and I have been doing that for the past three years.”

For more, read this week's Galway City Tribune.