Download Fractures and soft tissue injuries

FRACTURES
AND SOFT
TISSUE
INJURIES
FRACTURES
• A broken or cracked bone
• Great forces are required to break a bone, unless it is
diseased or old
• Bones that are growing or under repair are similar to a
twig- they may split, bend, and crack easily
CAUSES OF
FRACTURES
• Direct force- bones break at site of impact
• Indirect force- bones break some distance from impact
• Muscular force- violent muscular contraction
• Twisting force- caused by twisting
• Fatigue- Repeated strain on the same bone
• Pathological- diseases that weaken the bone
CLASSIFICATION OF
FRACTURES
• Open fracture
• Bone exposed at surface of skin (wound might be present)
• Possible bleeding or shock
• High risk of infection
• Closed fracture
• Skin above fracture is not damaged
• Bone fragments might cause damage to nearby tissues
and blood vessels
CLASSIFICATION OF
FRACTURES
• Stable
• Broken parts are not displaced (moved) easily
• Bones not completely broken
• Most common at the wrist, shoulder, ankle and hip.
• Minimal risk of bleeding or further damage
• Unstable
• Broken parts are easily moved by muscle contractions or
movement
• Risk of damage to nearby tissue, organs, and blood
vessels present
• May occur in cases of badly broken bones or torn ligament
CLASSIFICATION OF
FRACTURES
5 types of fracture
• Comminuted
• Greenstick
• Transverse
• Oblique
• Spiral
COMMINUTED
• Bone is broken in several parts
• Unstable
GREEN STICK
• Partial break in the bone
• Bone Bent
• More common in children
• Stable
TRANSVERSE
• Break perpendicular to the bone’s length
• Unstable if bone is fully broken
OBLIQUE
• Break at an angle across the bone
• Unstable if bone is fully broken
SPIRAL
• Break caused by twisting force
SIGNS AND
SYMPTOMS
• Deformity, swelling, or bruising
• Pain/ tenderness
• Shortening, bending, or twisting of the limb
• Coarse grating (Crepitus) heard/ felt
• Signs of shock, especial in cases of femur or pelvis
fracture
• Possible loss of function, sensation, or strength
• May be presence of a wound, with bone ends protruding
TREATMENT
• Ensure ABC
• Splint and Immobilize injured part, and ask casualty to
keep still (cover joint above and below site of fracture)
• Place padding around injury for extra support
• Send to hospital for arm injury (tie arm sling if necessary),
call 995 for ambulance for leg injury
• Prevent/ Treat shock, do not elevate injured limb
• Check circulation to injured limb at least every 10 minutes
• Monitor LOC and vital signs, at least every 5 minutes
All cases of spinal, neck and lower
limb fractures must be transported
by stretcher
DO NOT… …
• Move the casualty until injured part is immobilized, unless
faced with immediate danger
• Allow casualty to eat or drink
• Press directly on any protruding bone ends
• Elevate an injured limb
SOFT TISSUE INJURY
• Cramps
• Sudden painful spasm in 1 or more muscles
• Strains
• Injury to a muscle or tendon in which the muscle fibers tear
due to overstretching
• Sprains
• Injury in a joint caused by overstretched ligament
SIGNS AND
SYMPTOMS
• Pain and tenderness
• Difficulty moving injured part, especially in cases of joins
• Swelling or bruising in the area
TREATMENT
(CRAMPS)
• Stretch… …
TREATMENT (STRAINS
AND SPRAINS)
• “RICE” procedure
•
•
•
•
R rest
I  ice
C  comfortable support
E  Elevate the injured limb, if not constricted
NOTES
• Support bandage should extend from injured part to the
next joint (Ankle injury: bandage should extend from
the base of the toes to the knees)
• Check for circulation beyond bandages every 10 minutes
• Send to hospital if pain is severe or casualty is unable to
use the injured part (otherwise, advice casualty to rest and
seek medical advice)
• Treat for fracture, if unsure of severity
CLARIFICATION?
THANK YOU