Dr. Alejandro Badia, sports injury expert, warns about injuries that can affect players on the field
Miami, Florida (May 14, 2018) – Dr. Alejandro Badia, MD, F.A.C.S., a U.S. hand and upper extremity surgeon, past president of the International Society for Sport Traumatology of the Hand (ISSPORTH), and founder of Badia Hand to Shoulder Center and OrthoNow, warns players and fans of the “beautiful game” about the most common injuries that occur in professional soccer players. Soccer is recognized as the most popular sport; fans and athletes around the world gather to witness the highly anticipated FIFA World Cup, which takes place every four years. Every player depends 100% on their physical condition to skillfully perform their abilities on the field, and an injury could indefinitely derail their participation in the championship. When talking about injuries in soccer players, it is most common to hear about those suffering from lower extremity ailments, including: leg, foot, knee, and thigh. However, upper extremity injuries, although less common, can seriously affect the player, and even keep them away from the playing field for a longer time. Dr. Alejandro Badia, hand and upper extremity surgeon and sports injury specialist, states that in a contact and physical exertion sport like soccer, shoulder injuries account for 50% of the accidents that happen on the field. Mostly affecting the “goal protectors” [goalkeepers], who could spend 1 to 3 weeks “out of the game.” Dr. Badia states:
Major fractures of the hand or wrist only occur during high-speed contact. Complex fractures can occur below the elbow, and there is great variation in fracture patterns.
On the other hand, Dr. Alejandro Badia assures that the wrist and hand could also be compromised in accidents that happen on the pitch. Goalkeepers, who suffer the severe consequences of saving the ball at all costs, are exposed to high-severity fractures, as hand bones are smaller and weaker compared to the femur or knee, requiring highly delicate intervention and potentially taking months in therapy and recovery. Wrist conditions, on the other hand, can affect any player, since a fall with poor support while running at approximately 22 miles per hour can easily result in a fracture or dislocation of the limb.
Dr. Badia declares:
This is a high-contact sport with evidently unpredictable accidents. We as doctors have the responsibility to offer faster and more efficient alternatives so that the athlete can return to their activities in the shortest possible time, and with the full use of their physical faculties. For these cases, arthroscopy is the most viable option, if the case permits, being a minimally invasive method that allows for the recovery of the affected area in a short time.
A general orthopedic surgeon often addresses simple fractures, but the highly competitive athlete truly needs an optimal result to maximize their return to full function. That is why it is important for an upper extremity specialist to evaluate these injuries, as recovering the full range of motion of the wrist and hand is often difficult. Fractures of the upper arm (humerus) can also be a consequence of this injury and can even extend to the shoulder joint.
Arthroscopy is a minimally invasive procedure that allows athletes to return to their activities in less time.
Depending on the case and the injury, it could give the athlete hope of returning to the championship in less time, and being able to defend their flag with honor and without pain. Dr. Alejandro Badia is a pioneer and expert in arthroscopy, and his priority is always that his patients can return to their daily lives as soon as possible. A testimony of an athlete treated with great success by Dr. Badia through arthroscopy is Adrian Foncette, international soccer player and official goalkeeper for the Trinidad and Tobago national team. Adrian suffered severe injuries to his elbow and his doctors told him he could not play soccer again. Dr. Badia took the case into his expert hands and successfully performed several surgeries in which a tendon transfer was performed. Today, Foncette is back on the soccer field, defending the goal for his national team. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Badia, you do not have to travel to Miami. Now, from the comfort of your home or office, you can have a virtual consultation (telemedicine) via a computer, tablet, or smartphone, where you can get a diagnosis for your injury. To coordinate an appointment, contact: Susan Iglesias, International Coordinator at (305) 227-4263
About Dr. Alejandro Badia
Alejandro Badia, MD, FACS is a hand and upper extremity surgeon at Badia Hand to Shoulder Center, a fully integrated clinical facility for the upper extremity, including the hand, wrist, elbow, and shoulder, located in Doral, Florida. Dr. Badia completed his education at Cornell University and New York University, and his orthopedic training at Bellevue Hospital and the NYU Medical Center, and later obtained two fellowships, one in hand microsurgery in Pittsburgh and another in trauma in Germany. Dr. Badia has served as worldwide president of ISSPORTH, the international society for sport traumatology of the hand, and is co-founder of the globally renowned research and training center Miami Anatomical Research and Training Center (M.A.R.C.), the largest cadaveric surgical training lab in the world. He is also co-founder of The Surgery Center at Doral, an elite state-of-the-art ambulatory surgery center.
Dr. Badia has published numerous articles, written several book chapters, and has been a guest speaker in nearly twenty-five countries. He is a member of the American Society for Surgery of the Hand (ASSH), the American Association for Hand Surgery (AAHS), and the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), as well as numerous other international hand surgery and arthroscopy associations. Dr. Badia has also been an honored professor at the prestigious Philadelphia Hand Course. For 10 consecutive years, Dr. Badia has served on the editorial review board for techniques in upper extremity surgery, comprised of international opinion leaders in upper extremity surgery. Dr. Badia actively directs an international hand fellowship program, serves on the editorial board of two hand journals, and for eight consecutive years, has organized a two-day conference and learning symposium for surgeons/therapists dedicated to upper extremity arthroscopy and arthroplasty.
After years of a successful medical career and a recognized legacy as an international speaker, he saw the need for specialized orthopedic urgent care centers to evaluate and treat a variety of orthopedic and sports injuries, which is why he founded OrthoNOW®, the only network of orthopedic urgent care centers in the country. He serves as medical director of the flagship center in Doral, Florida, which features a team of orthopedic specialists who treat broken bones, sprains, torn ligaments and muscles, cuts, orthopedic and sports injuries, and workers’ compensation-related injuries.
Dr. Badia has been honored for two consecutive years by the South Florida Business Journal as one of the 100 most powerful leaders in healthcare and as one of the top 100 under 50 diverse executive leaders according to Diversity MBA Magazine. He has also been honored with the Legacy Award by Today’s Work Comp Professionals and the Doral Business Council. OrthoNOW® was recognized by Entrepreneur Magazine as one of the top 10 healthcare franchise opportunities and has been featured by media outlets: Franchise Times, Orthopedics This Week, South Florida Business Journal, Franchise USA Magazine, and the Miami Herald.
