Bone, muscle & joint injuries Flashcards
DISLOCATION
- 1 rule + how to treat
- DO NOT try to manipulate bone back into place, this is a job for experts and can cause more damage
- otherwise treat same as fracture
4 types of FRACTURE (+ details)
CLOSED - clean break, no complications
COMPLICATED - may include trapped blood vessels, nerve, etc.
OPEN - has broken skin (bone may not still be visible), high risk of infection
GREEN STICK - bone is split but not totally severe, common on flexible child bones, often mistaken for sprain/strain
FRACTURE
- 8 poss. signs + symptoms
- pain at site
- loss of power (e.g. lifting with arm)
- unnatural movement (‘unstable’ fracture)
- swelling or bruising at site
- deformity
- irregularity (lumps or depression along bone)
- crepitus (sound of bone grating)
- tenderness at site
what is especially important for ‘unstable’ fractures?
take care to prevent fracture moving
BASIC FRACTURE
- treatment
(3 things)
- reassure casualty, tell to keep still
- keep injury still with hands
- wait for emergency services
BASIC FRACTURE
- don’ts
(3 things)
- try to move patient unless in danger
- try to bandage fracture (but do cover open wounds with sterile dressing)
- give anything to eat or drink (may need operation)
upper limb (arm) fracture - treatment
(2 things)
- carefully place arm in sling
- arrange transport to hospital
when should you call emergency services for upper limb fracture?
(4 things)
- severe pain
- circulation affected
- nerves affected
- you are unsure
lower limb (leg) fracture - treatment
(4 things)
- keep casualty warn and still
- call emergency services
- if emergency services delayed, immobilise the injury by bandaging the sound leg to injured leg
- check circulation beyond injury/bandages, adjust bandages if necessary
putting on SUPPORT SLING
- place sling between body and fracture arm
- bring bottom of sling forward around arm and over shoulder
- bring top of sling behind neck/shoulder, tie to other end of sling
putting on ELEVATED SLING
- wrap sling around fractured arm
- one end goes behind back, other over front of should
- tie behind back, adjusting to elevate
how can you tell the difference between a sprain/strain and fracture?
often can’t without X-ray
SPRAINS + STRAINS
- treatment (acronym)
(4 things)
RICE
Rest
Ice (ASAP)
Compression (with non-constrictive bandage)
Elevation
what is the best procedure for ice on sprain/strain?
timing + 1 safety precaution
- ASAP for 10 mins
- then 10 mins every 2 hours, for 24 hours
- always wrap icepack in cloth to prevent frostbite
in what instances should you suspect spinal injury?
7 examples
- if blow to head, neck or back
- fallen from height
- dived into shallow water
- accident involving speed (e.g. car)
- ‘cave in’ incident (e.g. crushing, rugby scrum)
- multiple injuries
- if in any doubt
SPINAL INJURY
- 7 signs + symptoms
- pain or tenderness on neck or back
- signs of fracture in neck or back
- loss of control of limbs below injury
- loss of feeling in limbs
- sensations in limbs (e.g. pins and needles, burning)
- breathing difficulties
- incontinence
SPINAL INJURY
- treatment of conscious casualty
(3 things)
- DON’T MOVE unless in severe danger
- reassure + tell not to move
- hold head + neck still, in line with upper body
- call emergency services
SPINAL INJURY
- treatment of unconscious but breathing casualty
- DON’T MOVE unless in severe danger
- no need to tilt head back if casualty breathing normally
- monitor breathing
- call emergency services
- hold head still with your hand, in line with upper body
- move into recovery position if needed
- keep casualty warm
when should spinal injury casualties be moved into the recovery position?
(3 reasons)
- if you leave the casualty
- if casaulty starts vomiting
- other concerns about airway
SPINAL INJURY
- treatment of unconscious casualty who is not breathing
(4 things)
- may use head tilt to open airway (or for rescue breaths)
- re-check breathing once airway opened, before starting rescue breaths
- call emergency services
- begin resuscitation, with help keeping head/neck in line with body
how should you move a spinal injury casualty onto their side?
LOG ROLL (needs 3 people or more)
or
RECOVERY POSITION
how to perform a log roll?
6 things
- 1 person supports head
- others kneel along one side
- carefully straighten legs + arms
- working together, roll casualty towards the group
- coordinate movement! count people in
- if possible, keep holding in this position until ambulance arrives
special considerations for recovery position with spinal injury
(5 things)
- always do log roll if you have enough people
- get a helper: 1 person to hold head, 1 to roll
- when rolling, count in and pull in shoulder and knee equally
- if no one to help, use padding (e.g. folded coat) to keep head supported
