TEM Flashcards
What should you be thinking about enroute to the call?
- Major trauma centre
- Helicopter availability
- Landing sites
- CCP availability
- High Acuity Response Unit
- Speed zone of accident
- Weather
What does the mnemonic ETHANE stand for?
Exact location
Type of incident
Hazards on scene
Access/egress
Number of patients
Emergency services required
What is the primary survey order in trauma?
D – Danger
R – Response – AVPU
A – Airway – suction, OP/NP if not patent
B – Breathing – Y/N
C – Circulation – Y/N, Control bleeding
D – Disability – Pupils, GCS
E – Expose (if unconscious cut clothes off)
What takes priority over airway and breathing interventions in trauma?
life-threatening bleeding
What order are the secondary surveys done in trauma?
Head to toe
life threats
CVS
SAMPLE
Neuro
Respiratory
Pain
What gross abnormalities are you looking for in a H2T?
- Angulated limbs
- Unequal chest movement
- Flail chest
- Rigid or bruised abdomen
What are the four major life threat areas and why?
chest
abdomen
pelvis
femur
they bleed out internally
When will a tension pneumothorax be apparent in the assessments?
when assessing life threats
What criteria ascertain if you stay and play or load and go?
- Isolated (eg compound fracture) or multisystem trauma (chest and abdomen)
- Time (choking, cardiac arrest) or transport criticality (internal bleeding, closed head injury)
- Downstream thinking
With a time critical injury do you stay and play or load and go?
stay and play
With a transport critical injury do you stay and play or load and go?
load and go
What does downstream thinking take into account?
what does the patient need and can we do it
What are the Nexus Criteria components?
- no ALOC
- no focal neurological deficit
- no midline tenderness
- no intoxication
- no distracting injury
What are the methods of vehicle extrication?
self extrication
combi carrier
What are the options for self extrication from a car?
- Pt step out of their car themselves? (Pts can self manage their spines better than rescuers)
- Rescuers apply a c-spine collar and ask the patient to self extricate
What are the options for combi carrier extrication from a car for patients unable to self extricate?
- Board inserted under patient’s backside, they are rotated while providing MILS and slid out onto the stretcher
- Extricate via rear windscreen
What should you avoid doing when a pt is entrapped?
impeding the fire department
How many of the Nexus criteria does a Pt need to meet to clear them from needing cervical spine imaging
all
What is the normal intracranial pressure (ICP)?
5 - 15 mmHg
What contents does intracranial pressure (ICP) include?
brain and contents in the skull
What is the normal Cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP)?
50 - 70 mmHg
What is cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP)?
Pressure required to perfuse brain
How do you calculate mean arterial pressure (MAP)?
Diastolic BP + 1/3 pulse pressure
How do you calculate cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP)?
CPP = MAP – ICP
What is the MAP range for CPP?
50 - 150 mmHg
What is autoregulation?
the brain maintaining the same cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP)
Is autoregulation lost in traumatic brain injury?
yes
What is the goal MAP for head injury Pts?
90 mmHg
How do you calculate pulse pressure (PP)?
PP = SBP - DBP
What is Cushing Reflex?
a physiological nervous system response to acute elevations of intracranial pressure (ICP)
What are the components of cushings triad?
hypertension
bradycardia
increased ventilations
What is cerebral herniation syndrome?
Displacement of any part of the brain within the skull due to raised ICP
What are the 6 types of cerebral herniation syndrome?
subfalcine (cingulate)
central (tentorial)
transcalvarial (external)
uncal (transtentorial)
upward
tonsillar (downward cerebellar)
What is the Monroe Kellie Doctrine
Skull is a closed vault – Can only fit a certain amount in there
If the amount of blood increases, something else has to go
What are the percentages of brain tissue, CSF and blood within the skull?
brain tissue 80%
CSF 10%
blood 10%
What is the Mass Effect?
Brain swelling causes CSF into spinal column followed by herniation
In a brain herniation, what do constricted pupils indicate?
posterior herniation
In a brain herniation, what do dilated pupils indicate?
both optic nerves getting squashed
In a brain herniation, what does unequal pupils indicate?
only one optic nerve is being squashed
What are is are the 2 severe signs of TBI?
decorticate (flexion) - arms flexed and legs extended
decerebrate (extension) - arms and legs extended
What is the GCS score when you should suspect severe brain injury?
GCS <9
What is a primary head injury?
Initial traumatic insult to the brain
What is a secondary head injury?
The cascade of events following primary injury that can worsen the injury
What are the 2 primary goals in head injury/TBI management?
Avoid hypoxia & hyperoxia
Avoid hypotension
What do hypoxia, hyperoxia and hypotension do in a traumatic brain injury (TBI)?
- dramatically increase mortality
- Hypoxia increases brain damage
- Hyperoxia increases oxygen free radical production further damaging injured cells
- Hypotension stops brain auto-regulating CPP so maintain blood pressure and MAP to ensure brain perfusion
What is the traumatic brain injury (TBI) management for Pts with a GCS 15?
Consider:
bleeding control
C spine support
oxygen
IV access
analgesia
IV fluids
What is the traumatic brain injury (TBI) management for Pts with a GCS <15?
maintain airway, oxygen, BP and then transport
oxygen
IV access
IV fluids - MAP around 90 (SBP 100 - 120 mmHg)
Consider:
basic airway adjuncts
c spine support
semi recumbent position at 30 degrees if isolated head injury
analgesia
antiemetic
CCP backup
midazolam/ketamine - CCP only
hypertonic saline 7.5 % - HARU
transport
pre-notify as appropriate
What is the scalp injury management?
explore to determine severity (see skull OK, see yellow CSF or brain matter - transport quickly)
pad and bandage
transport
What are the four types of skull fractures?
depressed
impaled object
linear nondisplaced
open
What are the 2 bruising signs of a basilar skull fracture?
battle’s sign
raccoon eyes
What are the 4 types of traumatic brain injury (TBI)?
Bleeding
Contusion
Concussion
Diffuse axonal injury
What are the 4 types of bleeding traumatic brain injury (TBI)?
Epidural - Between skull and dura
Subdural - Between dura and arachnoid
Subarachnoid - Between the arachnoid and pia mater
Intracerebral - Directly into brain tissue
What are some of the secondary brain injuries?
- Brain herniation and death results from untreated cerebral haemorrhage
- Breach of blood-brain barrier causes severe meningitis
- Hypoventilation results in hypercarbia, increasing ICP
- Raised ICP reduces cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP), causing anoxia injury
- Subarachnoid haemorrhage causes vasospasm, causing large area of ischaemia
How does traumatic brain injury (TBI) bleeding cause problems?
- Blood irritates brain tissue causing pain and symptoms such as neck stiffness
- Monroe-Kellie Doctrine – Mass effect –intracranial pressure – reduced brain perfusion
What is the epidural haematoma aetiology?
- rupture of middle meningeal artery causing rapid rise in ICP as haematoma accumulates within the extradural space
What are the epidural haematoma signs and symptoms?
(above the dura mater)
Initial loss of consciousness followed by ‘lucid interval’ of coherence
Progressive deterioration over minutes to hours
Signs of raised ICP:
ALOC or LOC
severe headache
Ipsilateral fixed & dilated pupil
Contralateral paralysis
vomiting
What is the subdural haematoma aetiology?
(between dura mater and arachnoid mater)
- Bleeding into the subdural space from bridging veins
- Very slow progression due to venous origin and compensation
- traumatic or spontaneous
- Severe cases associated with catastrophic TBI
What are the subdural haematoma signs and symptoms?
(between dura mater and arachnoid mater)
Possible initial LOC followed by lucid intervals
conscious state may fluctuate
Headache
Focal neurological deficits relate to underlying brain region
Who are at higher risk of subdural haematoma?
elderly
people on anticoagulants
PMHx alcohol abuse
What is the subarachnoid haemorrage aetiology?
Arterial bleed into the subarachnoid space
trauma or spontaneous
What are the subarachnoid haemorrage signs and symptoms?
sudden onset of ‘thunderclap’ headache
Meningeal irritation
Photophobia
visual impairment
Focal neurological deficits, increasing severity
nausea and vomiting
+/- mild hypertension and/or mild hyperthermia
What are the two types of intracerebral haemorrhage (CVA)?
arterial
venous
What are the intracerebral haemorrhage (CVA) signs and symptoms?
ALOC
Stroke symptoms
Headache
vomiting
plus others depending on region/degree
What is a concussion?
brain hits inside of skull - no structural injury to brain
What are the concussion signs and symptoms?
LOC or confusion followed by return to normal
Retrograde short-term amnesia - May repeat questions over and over
dizziness
headache
ringing in ears
nausea
What is a cerebral contusion?
Bruising of brain tissue (from hitting inside skull)
Swelling may be rapid and severe
What are the cerebral contusion signs and symptoms?
Prolonged unconsciousness
Profound confusion or amnesia
Focal neurological signs
What is diffuse axonal injury?
shearing of the axons
generally seen in vehicle rollovers - significant cause of morbity and mortality
What is the diffuse axonal injury aetiology?
Extreme acceleration/decelation causes shearing forces within the brain that stretches and tears the axons of neurons
What are the minor/mild diffuse axonal injury signs and symptoms?
Unconsciousness or confusion followed by return to normal
Retrograde short-term amnesia - May repeat questions over and over
Dizziness
headache
ringing in ears
nausea
What are the severe diffuse axonal injury signs and symptoms?
unconscious
DAI determined with GCS <8 for >8hrs
Seizures in acute and sub-acute stages
What are the common causes of facial trauma?
assaults
falls
motor vehicle accidents
What is a Le Forte I fracture?
fracture under cheek bones
Pain, numb upper teeth, mobile upper teeth
What is a Le Forte II fracture?
fracture from bridge of nose across both cheeks
Pain, numb upper lip and nose, midface mobility
What is a Le Forte III fracture?
fracture across face through eye sockets
Pain, difficulty breathing, marked facial deformity and swelling
How are orbit fractures caused?
Direct impact to the hard structures surrounding the eye can transmit the force to the weaker thinner bones at the rear and base of the eye socket
What is the orbit fracture treatment?
icepacks
have the patient avoid nose blowing, vomiting, etc as it can lead to air trapping under the eye
What is the treatment for eye trauma to the surface of the eye?
irrigate continuously with saline or water
What is the treatment for eye trauma penetration?
cover the eye without applying pressure to the eyeball or the embedded object (Styrofoam cup)
position in semi recumbent
anti-emetic
What is the treatment for eye trauma extrusion?
support with a saline soaked dressing and tape it in place
What is the epistaxis treatment?
advise patient to lean forward to allow for drainage out
pinch the sides of the nose until bleeding stops
What is the jaw fracture treatment?
icepacks
pain relief
soft collar may help splint the jaw
What is the jaw fracture signs and symptoms?
pain
swelling
reduced jaw mobility
What is tooth avulsion?
whole tooth has been knocked out
What is tooth avulsion treatment?
If <1 hours the empty socket and tooth should be cleaned in saline then tooth re-implanted.
The patient will have to hold it in place with a pad for several hours to allow the reattachment to take place.
If re-implantation cannot occur transport the tooth in milk, saline, or in the patient’s mouth.
How do you manage the airway in a facial trauma Pt?
if conscious - sit up and lean forward to clear airway
if unconscious - lateral positioning to allow for passive drainage
preferred is rapid sequence intubation - consdier when performing interventions that delay transport
What is hyperextension of the neck?
excessive posterior movement of the head or neck
What is hyperflexion of the neck?
excessive anterior movement of the head or neck
What is compression of the neck?
weight of head or pelvis driven into the stationary neck or torso
What is rotation of the neck?
excessive rotation of the torso, head and neck moving one side of the spinal column against the other
What is lateral stress of the neck?
direct lateral force on the spinal column typically shearing one level of cord from the other
What is distraction of the neck?
excessive stretching of the column and cord
In vertebral vs spinal cord injuries, what will vertebral fractures will present with?
pain
In vertebral vs spinal cord injuries, what will spinal cord injuries present with?
neurological signs of loss of:
* sensation/altered sensation
* motor function/weakness
What does a complete spinal cord injury result in?
No motor function or sensation below the point of injury (paraplegic or quadriplegic)
What does an incomplete spinal cord injury result in?
Some function remains below the injury
What are the three types of incomplete spinal cord injury?
central cord syndrome
anterior cord syndrome
brown-sequard’s syndrome
What part of the spinal cord is damaged in central cord syndrome?
the centre of the cord is damaged, typically by hyperextension
What does central cord syndrome result in?
Usually the arms lose more function than the lower body
What part of the spinal cord is damaged in anterior cord syndrome?
The anterior section of the spinal cord
usually caused by a blood clot but can be traumatic, occluding blood supply to the anterior section of the spinal cord
What does anterior cord syndrome result in?
the ability to feel sensation and proprioception is preserved
What part of the spinal cord is damaged in brown-sequard’s syndrome?
The cord is split in half along its length for a variable distance, typically
caused by penetrating trauma
What does brown-sequard’s syndrome result in?
preserved motor function on one side of the body and preserved sensory function on the other side
What does compression or burst spinal fracture present with?
pain and muscle spasm at site
+/- neurological involvement
What is the pathophysiology of neurogenic shock?
vagus nerve runs through C3 and spared from injury in severe spinal cord damage allowing parasympathetic innervation only below level of injury causing large scale vasodilation with associated shock
What are the neurogenic shock signs and symptoms?
Hypotensive
+/- Bradycardia
warm and dry (as opposed to cool/clammy in hypovolemic shock)
decreased body temp over time
What is the neurogenic shock management?
Consider:
Cervical pain:
* soft collar
* supine or semi-recumbent positioning
Thoracic, lumbar or sacral pain:
* soft collar (even if no cervical pain)
* supine positioning
* +/- immobilisation to a longboard (depend on Pts behaviour)
Neurological signs:
* soft collar
* supine positioning
* immobilisation on a longboard
How do you maintain the neutral head position in infants?
infants have big heads – raise their shoulders a
little to keep their cervical spine straight
How do you maintain the neutral head position in older children?
Older children are just right
How do you maintain the neutral head position in adults?
Adults have small heads – raise their heads a little to keep their cervical spine straight
What documentation requirements are there in spinal injuries where there is a loss of sensation or motor function?
document this carefully to enable identification of improvement or worsening especially at what
level the loss occurs (e.g cant feel pinky but can feel rest of hand) as this correlates to the affected
dermatomes
What are the 2 types of thoracic trauma mechanisms of injury?
blunt
penetrating
What are the 2 types of blunt thoracic trauma?
Direct compression
* Fracture of solid organs
* Blowout of hollow organs
Deceleration forces
* Tearing of organs and blood vessels
What can cause penetrating trauma to the thorax?
edged weapons
gun shot wounds
What is an open pneumothorax?
hole through chest and lung/sucking chest wound
What happens in an open pneumothorax/sucking chest wound?
Air enters pleural space
Ventilation impaired (no gas exchange)
Hypoxia results
What is the treatment for an open pneumothorax/sucking chest wound?
Close chest wall defect
Load-and-go
What can an open pneumothorax/sucking chest wound develop into?
tension pneumothorax
What are the signs and symptoms of a tension pneumothorax?
Anxiety
Jugular distension
Tracheal deviation (rare)
Dyspnea
Tachypnea
Breath sounds diminished
Hyper-resonance if percussed
Shock with hypotension
What is the location for the needle thoracostomy (chest decompression)?
2nd intercostal space mid-clavicular line
Do you load and go or stay and play for a tension pneumothorax?
load and go
What are the signs and symptoms of massive haemothorax?
Anxiety and confusion
Neck veins
- Flat: hypovolemia
- Distended: mediastinal compression
decreased breath sounds
Hyporesonance on percussion
Shock
What is the Tx for a massive haemothorax?
Load-and-go–
Treat for shock
- Fluid administration (Titrate to peripheral pulse (80-90 mmHg)
Monitor for tension hemopneumothorax
What is a flail chest?
rib fracture that separates whole section of ribs - broken section will pull in when breathe in and blow out when breathe out
What is the Tx for a flail chest?
Assist ventilation (IPPV if unconscious)
Load-and-go
Stabilize flail segment (with big pad)
Monitor for:
- Pulmonary contusion
- Haemothorax
- Pneumothorax
What is a cardiac tamponade?
Blood in the pericardial sac (it can’t stretch)
What are the components of Beck’s triad?
(Seen in cardiac tamponade)
Hypotension
JVD (backing up as heart not filling properly and back pressure into vena cava)
Heart sounds muffled (fluid dulls sound)
What are the signs and symptoms of a cardiac tamponade?
jugular vein distention
decreased or muffled heart sounds
hypotension
tachycardia
narrow pulse pressure
electrical alternans
low voltage QRS complex
What is the Tx for a cardiac tamponade?
Load-and-go
Treat for shock
Fluid administration titrated to peripheral pulse (80–90 mmHg)
Prepare for resuscitation
Monitor for:
- Hemothorax
- Pneumothorax
What is a myocardial contusion?
bruising on heart (can’t contract properly)
What causes a myocardial contusion?
blunt anterior chest injury
What is the most common cardiac injury?
myocardial contusion
What are the signs and symptoms of a myocardial contusion?
Chest pain
Dysrhythmias (often shows as STEMI pattern)
Cardiogenic shock (rare)
What is the Tx for a myocardial contusion?
Fluid administration titrated for peripheral pulse (80–90 mmHg)
Prepare for resuscitation
Monitor for Haemothorax and Pneumothorax
What is the Tx for a traumatic aortic rupture?
load and go - nothing we can do - 80% die immediately
titrate fluids to maintain radial pulse
scene size up and Hx extremely important (pt may not exhibit obvious signs of chest trauma)
What is a Tracheal or bronchial tree injury?
injury to upper part of chest to below vocal cords
What are the signs and symptoms of a tracheal or bronchial tree injury?
hoarseness of voice or aphonia
haemoptysis
subcutaneous emphysema (chest, face, neck)
dysphagia
stridor
respiratory failure
What is the Tx for a tracheal or bronchial tree injury?
oxygenation
CCP for intubation if unconscious (cuffed ET tube pst site of injury)
monitor for pneumotharax and haemothorax
What causes a diaphragmatic tear?
Severe blow to abdomen
What is a diaphragmatic tear?
Herniation of abdominal organs into chest cavity (liver, stomach, pancreas)
What are the signs and symptoms of a diaphragmatic tear?
More common on left
Breath sounds diminished
Bowel sounds auscultated in chest (rare)
Abdomen appears scaphoid
What is a pulmonary contusion?
bruising on lungs causing blood and transidate to leak from microvascular bruising
What is the most common cause of pulmonary contusion?
blunt trauma
What is the treatment for a pulmonary contusion?
Oxygen/CPAP
What is the treatment for impaled objects in the chest?
Do not remove
Stabilize the object (circular bandage/padding taped around)
Monitor for:
- Tension pneumothorax
- Hemothorax
- Cardiac tamponade
Rapid transport
Why don’t we remove the impaled object from the chest?
removing causes bleeding, sucking chest wound and cardiac tamponade
What is traumatic asphyxia?
severe compression of the chest causes all blood to be shunted into upper body, rupturing capilliaries
What are the signs and symptoms of traumatic asphyxia?
Cyanosis above crush
Swelling of head, neck, lips and tongue
Conjunctival hemorrhage
What causes a sternal fracture?
Significant blunt trauma to anterior chest
What are the signs and symptoms of a sternal fracture?
Signs of fracture on palpation
Myocardial contusion presumed (shock, circulatory failure, collapse)
What is the Tx for a simple rib fracture?
aggressive pain relief
encourage to take full breath
Monitor for Pneumothorax & Haemothorax
What is the priority in all chest injuries?
oxygen and airway
What should you pay attention to when evaluting abdominal trauma?
scene
mechanism of injury
What are the major causes of preventable death associated with trauma?
haemorrhage
infection
What happens to solid organs in trauma?
split and fracture and bleed intensely
What are the solid abdominal organs?
kidneys
liver
pancreas
spleen
What happens to hollow organs in trauma?
can rupture and spill contents (food, faeces) into the perineum
What are the hollow organs in the abdomen?
duodenum
small intestine
large intestine
bladder
What is the perineum?
big fibrous sac that encapsulates most of the abdomen
What are the major abdominal injuries in the thoracic region?
life threatening harmorrhage to liver and spleen
What are the major abdominal injuries in the true abdomen region?
Infection, peritonitis, shock: intestines
Severe haemorrhage with signs
What are the major abdominal injuries in the retroperitoneal (outside perineum) abdomen region?
Severe haemorrhage hidden: major vessels
What are the concerns with blunt and penetrating abdominal trauma?
- Intra-abdominal bleed with hemorrhagic shock
- Sepsis and/or peritonitis
What are you looking and feeling for in an abdominal assessment?
Abrasions
Contusions
Deformities
Distension
Evisceration
Punctures
Tenderness
How do you palpate the abdomen
pressing and rolling fingers over all of the quadrants
What is the pain sign for a splenic injury?
Referred left posterior shoulder pain
What is the pain sign for a liver injury?
Referred right posterior shoulder pain
What are the signs and symptoms of abdominal trauma?
- Splenic injury - Referred left posterior shoulder pain
- Liver injury - Referred right posterior shoulder pain
- Severe hemorrhage (bruising around flanks)
- Distention, tenderness, tenseness
- Pelvic tenderness or bony crepitation or bruising around flanks
What is the mechanism for a blunt abdominal injury?
direct compression of abdomen
deceleration forces
What injuries can a direct compression of the abdomen cause?
Fracture of solid organs (spleen/liver)
Blowout of hollow organs (intestines)
What injuries can deceleration forces to the abdomen cause?
tearing of organs and blood vessels
What accompanying injuries should you look for when assessing blunt abdominal injuries?
head, chest, extremity
liver and spleen
What evidence of injury/signs are there in blunt abdominal trauma injury?
- Often no or minimal external evidence
- Often no pain or overshadowed distracting injuries
- Pain or tenderness
- Seat-belt sign
- Significant blood volume concealed in regions
What can cause a penetrating abdominal injury?
- Direct trauma to organ and vasculature
- Projectile and fragments
- Energy transmitted from mass and velocity (cavitation from bullets)
If a person is shot in the chest or abdomen, what do you need to assume?
that the other is involved as well (eg chest involved in abdomen injury and abdoment involved in chest injury)
Is the size of a penetrating wound an indicator of internal damage?
No, velocity is more important than caliber
What is the Young-Burgess classification?
Classification used to identify type of pelvic fractures
What are the 3 types of Young-Burgess classifications of pelvic ring fractures?
anterior posterior compression (APC)
lateral compression (LC)
vertical shear (VS)
What are APC II and III fractures referred to as?
open book fractures
What are the complications of pelvic fractures?
life-threatening haemorrhage
nerve damage
urethral damage
What do you need to know about life-threatening haemorrhage in pelvic fractures?
- Blood loss from pelvis itself and/or local vasculature; venous in 90% of cases
- Retroperitoneal space can accommodate your entire blood volume
- High likelihood of associated intra-abdominal bleeding due to kinematics
- Must assume potential or actual haemodynamic instability
What do you need to know about nerve damage in pelvic fractures?
- Nerve bundles through the pelvic ring run close to vasculature
- Damage can result in bowel, bladder, and sexual dysfunction
What do you need to know about urethral damage in pelvic fractures?
Incidence of 5-25% of pelvic fractures; most common in children & elderly
High-velocity pelvic fractures with destabilisation sits directly inside pelvis
What sign can indicate urethral or bladder damage in pelvic injuries?
PV bleed or bleeding from genitals in a person with an abdominal injury
Do we still ‘spring the pelvis’?
No
Why don’t we spring the pelvis?
due to the likelihood of clot disruption and further damage
How do we identify a pelvic injury if we can’t ‘spring’ the pelvis?
on mechanism of injury and patient presentation without significant palpation by the paramedic
What is the prehospital management for penetrating wounds?
direct pressure
Why do we limit fluid administration and allow permissive hypotension in Pt’s with a pelvic #?
increased BP increases bleeding and dilutes clotting factors
Why do we maintain normothermia in a Pt with a pelvic fracture?
to limit coagulopathy
How do we treat evisceration?
- Do not push viscera back into abdomen
- Gently rinse with sterile water cover with moistened gauze and cling wrap
- Apply non-adherent material to prevent drying
How do we treat an impaled object?
- Do not remove as will cause an uncontrollable hemorrhage
- Gently stabilize object
- Avoid movement
When is extremity trauma life-threatening?
When exsanguinating haemorrhage is occuring
What are the 2 potential dangers from extremity trauma?
- haemorrhagic shock (reduced tissue perfusion, resulting in the inadequate delivery of oxygen and nutrients)
- neurovascular compromise
What is a sprain?
stretching or tearing of ligaments of a joint becauseof a sudden twist
What are the signs and symptoms of a sprain?
pain
swelling
Can sprains be differentiated from a fracture?
No
How do you treat a sprain?
splinted as though it is a fracture
What is a strain?
stretching or tearing of a muscle or musculotendinous unit
How do you treat a strain?
splinted for comfort
Can you differentiate between a strain and a fracture?
Usually (not always)
What are the two types of fracture?
open (compound)
closed (simple
What are the features of an open fracture?
Communication to outside
Danger of contamination
Blood loss outside body
What are the features of a simple (closed) fracture?
No communication to outside
No danger of contamination
Blood loss inside body
How to you treat hand and foot injuries?
Manage haemorrhage
irrigate and cover
bandage carefully
What type of splint should be considered for hand injuries?
vacuum
cardboard
In a foot injury, what can you consider in regards to splinting?
pillows
pads
splinting against opposite limb
What is a colles fracture?
distal fracture of the radius
How much blood can you lose in a closed femur fracture?
1.5 litres
What is the treatment for a closed femur fracture?
CT6 or slishman’s splint
analgesia
What is the treatment for an open femur fracture?
analgesia
rinse with 1-2L of saline
CT6 or slishman’s traction splint
What is the management for dislocations?
- Splint in position found (Bind it as you find it)
- Shoulder dislocations may be most comfortable hanging freely or resting on a pillow. (Applying a sling can increase the rotation of the shoulder joint and increase pain.)
- If there is neurovascular compromise transport code 1 (loss of pulse/numbness)
What is the most common type of shoulder dislocation at 90% of dislocations?
anterior dislocation