Question

Rohan, a 16-year-old student, got injured after colliding with Sachin during a football match. He was having unbearable pain in his ankle, and it was swollen. The coach noticed a collection of blood outside the blood vessel on Sachin's forehead, too. He immediately gave first aid to both and rushed them to the hospital. Based on this case study, answer the following questions:
(i) What type of injury did Rohan suffer?
(ii) Sachin had _____ on his forehead.
(iii) If Sachin suffered abrasion during the injury, which of the following symptoms would he have?
(iv) A fracture in a soft bone, in which the bone bends, is known as \underline{\hspace{2cm}}}

Hint:

To distinguish between Sprain and Strain: Remember T for Tendon/muscle = Strain. If it involves a ligament (linking bone to bone), it's a Sprain.

Answer 1

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Sports injuries are classified into three main categories: Soft Tissue Injuries (skin, muscles, ligaments), Bone Injuries (fractures), and Joint Injuries (dislocations). Each injury has specific physical symptoms that help in identification.
Step 2: Key Formula or Approach:
Ligament injury = Sprain (Ankle common). Blood collection/Bruising = Contusion or Hematoma. Skin scraping = Abrasion. Bone bending = Greenstick fracture.
Step 3: Detailed Explanation:

1. (i) Rohan's Ankle Injury: Ankle swelling and pain after a sudden twist or collision usually involve ligaments. A ligament injury is called a (C) Sprain.
2. (ii) Sachin's Forehead Injury: A collection of blood under the skin caused by a blunt force (without the skin breaking) is a (A) Contusion.
3. (iii) Abrasion Symptoms: An abrasion is a superficial skin injury. It is characterized by the (B) Rubbing away of the upper layer of the epidermis (scraped skin).
4. (iv) Soft Bone Bending: This typically occurs in children whose bones are flexible. It is known as a (C) Greenstick fracture, where the bone cracks or bends but does not break into separate pieces.
Step 4: Final Answer:
(i) (C) Sprain
(ii) (A) Contusion
(iii) (B) Rubbing away of upper layer of epidermis
(iv) (C) Greenstick fracture

Answer 2

Each part of this scenario describes an injury with its own mechanism and telltale signs. Working through the case line by line, and ruling out what each injury is NOT, gives the four answers.

(i) Rohan's ankle: He felt "unbearable pain" and swelling right after a sudden collision, with no mention of a break or a dislocated joint shape. A dislocation would show a visibly deformed joint, and a fracture would usually be accompanied by an inability to bear any weight at all along with a grating sensation. What's left, given a twisted joint with pain and swelling but no deformity, is a stretched or torn ligament around the ankle joint, i.e. a sprain.

(ii) Sachin's forehead: The coach saw "a collection of blood outside the blood vessel," with the skin intact. Since the blood has leaked into the surrounding tissue without the skin being cut, this rules out a wound (open bleeding) and an abrasion (scraped skin, not pooled blood). This blood collection under unbroken skin is a contusion.

(iii) Abrasion symptom: An abrasion happens when skin is dragged across a rough surface, for example sliding on turf. This mechanism does not tear deep tissue or break a bone, it only scrapes off the outer skin layer. So the matching symptom is the rubbing away of the upper layer of the epidermis (scraped skin), not bruising or bone-related pain.

(iv) Soft bone bending: A complete fracture in an adult bone usually snaps into two pieces. But children's bones are still flexible and contain more collagen, so under stress the bone can bend and crack partially without fully separating. This partial bend-and-crack pattern, typical of a young player's bones, is known as a greenstick fracture.

So, the correct answers are (i) Sprain, (ii) Contusion, (iii) Rubbing away of the upper layer of the epidermis, (iv) Greenstick fracture.