INJURIES IN SPORT

Press, Volume C, Issue 29499, 28 April 1961, Page 12

INJURIES IN SPORT

21 Cases Last Saturday Sport* such as rodeo riding and Rugby football would be best reserved for when the ground is soft, according to Dr. T. Morton, medical super-intendent-in-chief of the North Canterbury Hospital Board. The Christchurch

Hospital orthopedic outpatients* department had to plaster the injuries of eight rodeo riders and 13 footballers as a result of last Saturday afternoon’s activities, and Dr. Morton commented yesterday that it. was “a fair plaster** for the surgeons who had to do the job. "In Britain. Rugby is often put off when the ground is frozen, because of the risk of breakages,” Dr Morton said. "Something of the sort might well be done here when the ground is hard. The fellows who came in on Saturday said the ground was very hard just at ‘he moment.”

The rodeo held at Rangiora on Saturday produced four wrist fractures, one dislocated shoulder, one fractured ankle, and two other injuries where the bones were not broken. Football of all codes, but almost entirely Rugby, accounted for five arm fractures, one shoulder dislocation, and seven cases of bruising or sprain In addition, there were 25 other patients of whom 11 had arm fractures.

“This gratuitous breaking of bones is a poor thing.’ added Dr. Morton. “No wonder people complain sometimes about having to wait foi attention.” Every patient, he said, had to be X-rayed, and in most cases there was manipulation of the broken bones under anaesthetic before the plaster could be put on, the whole process taking a great deal of time.