First Aid for Fracture, Sprain & Strain PDF

First Aid for Fracture , Sprain and Strain Dr. Ahmed M. Abdel-Halim Lecturer, PT for Cardiopulmonary Department BUC 1 Closed Fractures A fracture occurs when excessive force is applied to a bone resulting in the bone breaking A Closed fracture is a broken bone with no associated wound. The majority...

First Aid for Fracture , Sprain and Strain Dr. Ahmed M. Abdel-Halim Lecturer, PT for Cardiopulmonary Department BUC 1 Closed Fractures A fracture occurs when excessive force is applied to a bone resulting in the bone breaking A Closed fracture is a broken bone with no associated wound. The majority of fractures are closed Your main aim in first aid is to prevent excessive movement of the fracture to reduce pain and any internal bleeding Complicated fractures occur when the broken bone damages blood vessels or nerves near the fracture site. These fractures require urgent specialist medical treatment to reduce the risk of long-term complications such as permanent nerve damage 3 Signs or Symptoms of a Fracture Pain Loss of movement Angulation (abnormal bend or curve) of the limb Swelling Tenderness Irregularity Crepitus (a cracking or grating sound) Open Fracture A broken bone with some kind of wound that allows contaminants to enter into or around the fracture site. More dangerous than closed fracture because of the risk of severe bleeding and infection. Therefore, they are a higher priority and need to be checked more frequently. open fractures are relatively rare as they require a lot of force to occur. However, that a fracture is open sometimes can go unnoticed; the bone may not always be visible in the wound. After an injury the muscles around a fracture go into spasm, and this can pull the exposed bone back underneath the skin. For this reason, you should assume any wound overlying a fracture is caused by an open fracture until proven otherwise 6 First Aid Treatment for a Fracture 1. Treat any severe bleeding 2. Stabilize the injury to prevent movement of the fracture. 3. If the fracture is open, apply a sterile dressing over the wound to reduce the risk of infection. 4. Check for signs of circulation beyond the fracture 5. Monitor the victim for shock and record vital signs 7 6. Seek medical assistance or call 123. What is Strain? A strain involves a stretching and/or tearing of muscles or tendons. It most often involve the muscles in the neck, back, thigh, or calf. May be difficult to distinguish from sprains or fractures. When uncertain whether an injury is a strain, sprain, or fracture, treat the injury as if it is a fracture. What is sprain? The bones at a joint are held together by tough bands called ligaments. A sprain is an injury to a ligament 1st degree – stretched 2nd degree – partially torn 3rd degree – completely torn Most common are the fingers, wrist, ankle, and knee Signs and Symptoms of a Sprain Pain that may be severe and increase with the movement of the joint Loss of function Swelling and/or bruising Restricted use Tenderness at injury site What is a dislocation? When the bones at a joint are no longer in proper contact. Can be caused by severe twisting or indirect force, or even a muscular contraction Most frequently dislocated joints – – – – – – Shoulder Elbow Thumb Finger Jaw Knee Dislocations Dislocation is an injury to the ligaments around a joint that permits a separation of the bone from its normal position in a joint. Signs of a dislocation are similar to those of a fracture, thus a suspected dislocation should be treated like a fracture. Splinting Splinting is the most common procedure for immobilizing an injury. Cardboard is the material typically used for “makeshift” splints but a variety of materials can be used, including (soft or rigid materials) Cardboard Splint Cardboard Splint in which the edges of the cardboard are turned up to form a “mold” in which the injured limb can rest. First Aid Treatment for a Dislocated Joint 1. Support the limb in the position found; do not attempt to reduce the dislocation. 2. Apply padding around the injury. 3. Check for signs of circulation beyond the injury 4. If the victim has dislocated his shoulder, elbow, or wrist, then an arm sling may be useful to support the injury 5. Seek medical assistance or call 123 Splinting Soft materials: Towels, blankets, or pillows, tied with bandaging materials or soft cloths. Splinting Using a Towel Splinting using a towel, in which the towel is rolled up and wrapped around the limb, then tied in place. Pillow splint Pillow splint, in which the pillow is wrapped around the limb and tied. Splinting Rigid materials. A board, metal strip, folded magazine or newspaper, or other rigid item. Anatomical splints may also be created by securing a fractured bone to an adjacent un-fractured bone. Anatomical splints are usually reserved for fingers and toes but, in an emergency, legs may also be splinted together. Splinting Using A Blanket Splinting using a blanket in which the victim’s legs are immobilized by tying blankets at intervals from midthigh to feet. Guidelines for Splinting Support the injured area above and below the site of the injury, including the joints. If possible, splint the injury in the position that you find it. Don’t try to realign bones or joints. After splinting, check for proper circulation (warmth, feeling, and color). Immobilize above and below the injury.