4. Some signs of serious muscle, bone or joint
injuries:
Significant deformity
Bruising and swelling
Inability to use the affected part normally
Bone fragments sticking out of the wound
Person feels bone grating after injury
Heard a snap or pop sound at the time of injury
The injured area is cold or numb
Cause of the injury suggests that the injury may be
severe
5. Fractures
any break in a bone
Dislocation
when one end of a bone making up a joint is pulled or
pushed out of place
Sprain
when a ligament is torn (ankle, knee, finger…)
Strain
stretching of a muscle or tendon or mild tearing of muscle
(neck, lower back…)
6. There are two categories of fractures:
Closed (Simple) fracture
○ The skin is intact and no wound exists anywhere near the
fracture site.
Open (Compound) fracture
○ The skin over the fracture has been damaged or broken.
○ The wound may result from bone protruding through the
skin.
○ The bone may not always be visible in the wound.
Fractures
7.
8.
9.
10.
11. Fractures
What to Look for:
General signs and Symptoms:
○Tenderness to touch.
○Swelling.
○Deformities may occur when bones are broken, causing
an abnormal shape.
○Open wounds break the skin.
○A grating sensation caused by broken bones rubbing
together
can be felt and sometimes even heard.
Do not move the injured limb in an attempt to detect it.
○Loss of use.
12. Fractures
Additional signs and symptoms include:
The history of the injury can lead to suspect
a fracture whenever a serious accident has
happened.
○ The victim may have heard or felt the bone
snap.
14. 14
Comminute:
This is a type of fracture
that produces multiple bone
fragments
Comminuted Fracture
15. 15
Green stick:
A split in a young, immature
bone. Most common in children
Green-Stick Fracture
15
16. 16
Open:
In a open fracture, part of
the bone breaks through the
skin causing bleeding
The exposed bone is
Vulnerable to contamination
Wound
Open Fracture
18. 18
Open Fractures
Call for medical help. 112
If necessary, control bleeding by applying
continuous pressure above the fracture site.
Cover wound with dry sterile dressing.
Stabilize the injured area in position found.
Splint if necessary.
Monitor and treat for shock if present.
Nothing to eat or drink
19.
20.
21. 21
Dislocations
Partial or full displacement of bones at a
joint
Tears ligaments
Associated fracture
External wrenching force
Violent muscle contraction
Do not attempt to replace joint
22. 22
Dislocations
Support injured part
Secure injured part
112
Circulation
(10 minutes)
N.B. Traction in extreme locations
23.
24. 24
Soft Tissue Injuries -
Sprains
Sprains are injuries due to:
Stretching or tearing
ligaments or other tissues at
a joint.
Caused by a sudden twist
or stretch of a joint beyond
it’s normal motion
24
25. 25
Soft Tissue Injuries -
Sprains
The Symptoms of a Sprain are:
Pain on movement
Swelling
Tenderness
Discoloration
25
26. 26
Soft Tissue Injuries - Strains
The Symptoms of a strain are;
Intense pain
Moderate swelling
Painful movement
Difficult movement
Sometimes, discolouration
27. 27
Soft Tissue Injuries - Strains
A strain is an injury to a muscle or
tendon caused by over-exertion.
In severe cases muscles or tendons are
torn and the muscle fibres are stretched.
27
28. 28
Assessment of Injuries
History: (Ask the casualty what happened)
Violent blow or fall
Snapping sound
Sharp pain
Compare:
One side of the body against another
Visualise:
Try and imagine what happened
X-ray:
Injury may not be obvious
28
29. 29
Assessment of injuries
Recognition;
Difficulty moving limbs
Pain made worse by movement
Distortion
Coarse grating at bone ends
Shock (Femur, Ribcage, Pelvis)
Shortening, bending or twisting
29
30. 30
IF IN DOUBT - TREAT AS A
FRACTURE !
Soft Tissue injuries
Treatment (RICER)
Rest the injured part.
Apply Ice or cold compress.
(15-20mins)
Compress the injury.
Elevate the injured part.
Rehabilitate / Recuperation
30
31. The most common indicator of the severity of the injury is the
intensity of the pain. Also the area may be swollen, red and
bruised. Follow the below mentioned general guidelines
(RICE):
Rest: Do not move or straighten the injury
Immobilize: Try to stabilize the person in the position he/she
was found. Splint or sling the injured part only and caution
to move the person; it should not be more painful.
Cold: Indirectly cool the part using ice for a maximum of 20
minutes. Remove it for 20 minutes and then cool the part
again.
Elevate: Only elevate the part if it does not cause more
pain.