Musculoskeletal Injuries

Question 1

Signs and symptoms of Musculoskeletal Injury (8)

Answer 1

1. Diffuse or Specific Pain
2. Swelling and or Bruising
3. Deformity
4. Tenderness or point tenderness
5. Sounds, Snaps, Pops, Crepitus
6. Altered CSMs
7. Wounds with or without protruding bone
8. Changes in range of motion (ROM)

Question 2

How to assess a Usable & Unusable musculoskeletal Injury (4)

Answer 2

1. Look, Ask, Feel (LAF)
2. Check CSM
3. Acute or Chronic MOI?
4. Assess for usability

Question 3

What are the treatment principles for a usable musculoskeletal Injury? (6)

Answer 3

Manage Pain

1. if possible, ice the area for 20-40 minutes every 2-4 hours
2. Elevate the injury above the patient’s heart to help reduce swelling
3. consider pain medication
4. After the first 24hrs of the injury, alternate heat and ice for the next 48 hours
5. Support the usable injury with tape, wraps or braces
6. Frequently check CSM

Question 4

Explain how to splint an obvious fracture/unusable musculoskeletal injury (6)

Answer 4

1. Splint in a position of function
2. padded, but not bulky or heavy
3. Rigid
4. Adjustable
5. Fingers/Toes accessible for CSMs
6. Monitor CSMs before and after splinting.

Question 5

Describe a splint for a long bone injury.

Answer 5

Immobilize the joint above and below the injury.

Question 6

Describe a splint for a joint injury.

Answer 6

Immobilize the bones above and below the joint.

Question 7

What should be used to splint a pelvis?

Answer 7

Pelvic wrap

Question 8

Treatment principles for an open/compound fracture (exposed bone). (5)

Answer 8

1. Irrigate and clean wounds before traction in line.
2. Use traction in line to allow bone ends to slip beneath the skin.
3. protect exposed bone ends from freezing or drying.
4. Pack and dress the wound
5. Immediate Evacuation

Question 9

Describe what to do if a fracture is open, or angulated or if the CSM are altered.

Answer 9

Use gentle traction in line to establish normal anatomical position. Go slow and discontinue is pain is unmanageable or met resistance

Question 10

What is compartment syndrome.

Answer 10

Increase pressure in a muscle compartment secondary to fractures, crush injury, burns or other trauma or repetitive activities such as running. Commonly occurs in lower legs and forearm can occur in hand foot thigh and upper arm.

Question 11

Sign and symptoms of compartment syndrome. (4)

Answer 11

1. Pain out of proportion to injury, stimulated by stretching or movement.
2. Palor: Pale or cyanotic skin
3. Pulseless: Diminish or absent distal pulse
4. Muscle may feel tight or full (hard ad wood)

Question 12

What are the treatment principles for compartment syndrome (3)

Answer 12

1. Assess all injured extremities for compartment syndrome.
2. Acute compartment syndrome is a surgical emergency and there is not effective none surgical treatment.
3. Rapid Evacuate.