Sports Injuries and Emergencies: a Quick-Response Manual.

Sports Injuries and Emergencies: A Quick-Response Manual Rubin A, ed. New York, NY 10121-2298, McGraw-Hill, Medical Publishing Division, 2003, paperback, 487 pp, illus, ISBN: 0-07-139610-1, $49.95.

This manual was written to provide a resource for residents, fellows, and attending physicians regarding sideline care of the injured athlete. It is sized for convenient use (4.5 in x 8 in x 0.75 in). The manual is divided into 5 parts. The primary care section covers topics related to emergency situations (eg, asthma, heat exhaustion, concussions, contusions, fractures, chest and abdominal trauma). The second section covers orthopedic problems from fractures and contusions to specific ligamentous and joint dislocations. The manual, however, does not mention some very common injuries, such as hamstring muscle strains. Part 3 covers the specific injury concerns for many sports. When common injuries are mentioned, they are cross-referenced to the previous chapter for more information. The fourth part provides an overview of medical care for mass gatherings and discusses legal, ethical, and psychological issues. The appendixes contain a detailed list of necessary supplies, an emergency action plan, and algorithms for emergency cardiac care that include automated external defibrillators (AEDs).

None of the manual's 46 contributing authors are physical therapists, and only 2 are athletic trainers. The lack of input from specialists who manage sports injuries on a day-to-day basis leaves this manual lacking in practical tips on injury management. For example, although it covers the healing phases of wounds, mechanisms of lacerations, and suture techniques, the manual does not explain how to get an athlete who is bleeding from a minor injury back into the game quickly. This is an issue of great importance to teams, coaches, and athletes.

This is a concise handbook of emergency care for sports injuries. Emergency and sideline care is emphasized, but many of the recommendations regarding return-to-play are much too vague for use by specialists such as athletic trainers and physical therapists. For example, the return-to-play guidelines for an ankle sprain are "when there is adequate strength with a full pain free ROM." This manual, however, will provide much needed information for inexperienced physicians who have volunteered to be team physicians or for those who are entering a sports training program and who have responsibility for multiple events. The book offers less to the experienced physical therapist or athletic trainer.

Terry, Randall, PT, DPT, OCS, ATC 

Total Rehab Center

Somerset, Ky

Dr Randall is co-owner of Total Rehab Center, an outpatient orthopedic clinic. He is a clinical instructor for several physical therapist education programs, and his clinical and teaching interest is in primary care and patient management.