DADvocate

Today my son hurt himself in weight lifting class and I'm feeling upset about it. The technical name for the injury is right inferior pubic ramus avulsion fracture. The doctor at the ER said it had been years since the last time he saw this type of injury.

The right inferior pubic ramus is the purple area labeled "4" in the image below.



My son was squatting with weights and the power of his muscles caused the bone to fracture. He should have a 100% recovery but it will take a minimum of 6 weeks. We are trying to see an orthopedic surgeon tomorrow. Presently he is on crutches and taking pain medication. The ER doctor said rest is probably all that will be required for recover.

I feel sorry for my son. He's been working hard to be ready for football in the spring. Although still a freshman, he has become one of the strongest players on the team. At the beginning of spring practice in March, the local paper said the head coach was "particularly excited" about my son and quoted the head coach as saying, "Alex is about 6-3, 230 pounds, with great feet and he's gonna be a good one."

I'm saddened that my son has worked so hard and had this set back. But, I realize that everyone has set backs and it's how you respond to them that makes the difference. My son has already expressed his relief that he didn't suffer muscle damage. I suspect I'll have to be careful to make sure he takes his recovery and rehabilitation slow enough. Just another reason why in many ways my kids are my heroes.

UPDATE: I took my son to see the orthopedic surgeon yesterday. He's going to be fine and could be back up to full speed in as little as 6 weeks. She (the orthopedic surgeon) gave a different name to his injury - fracture right ischial tuberosity. He has to use crutches for 4 weeks and be very careful about where and how he sits. Essentially, his hamstring muscle is stronger than the bone it to which it attached due to the fact that his is still growing and the attachment isn't fully fused yet.