BONE, JOINT AND MUSCLE INJURIES
Musculoskeletal Injuries
• Fractures
• Dislocations
• Sprains
• Strains
• Cramps
Signs and Symptoms of Injury
• Compare injured arm or leg to opposite one
• Pain when area touched
• Bleeding or other wounds
• Abnormal sensation (numbness, tingling)
• Inability to move area
• Difference in temperature
During the Physical Examination
• Carefully remove victim’s clothes as needed
• Do not assume less painful injuries are minor
• Do not ask victim to move injured area if it causes pain
• Lack of sensation may be symptom of serious injury (nerve damage)
• Swelling usually occurs but amount of swelling not a good indicator of severity
• Obvious deformity usually sign of dislocation or fracture
• Skin discoloration may resemble bruising
• Pale, bluish skin color and cool skin may indicate lack of blood flow to area
(serious injury)
General First Aid: RICE
R - Rest
I - Ice
C - Compression
E - Elevation
Fractures
• Bone may be completely broken or only cracked
• Closed fracture – skin not broken
• Open fracture – open wound at site
• Bleeding can be severe with fracture of large bones
• Nearby organs may be damaged
• Assess circulation: Call 9-1-1 if compromised
First Aid for Fractures
1. Immobilize area (joints above and below).
2. Call 9-1-1 or transport.
3. Treat open wound.
4. Apply RICE.
5. Splint if help delayed.
Dislocations
• Typically result from strong forces
• Sometimes accompanied by fractures or other serious injuries
• Pain, swelling, bruising occur
• Significant displacement can damage nearby nerves and cause serious bleeding
• Joint or limb may look deformed
• Can be serious because of potential for nerve and blood vessel injury
• With severe bleeding, victim may go into shock
• Check and care for life-threatening conditions first – then care for dislocation
Sprains
• Typically occur when joint overextended
• Ankles, knees, wrists, fingers most common
• Cause swelling, pain, bruising and inability to use joint
• Difficult to tell severe sprain from fracture
• Assess circulation: If compromised – call 9-1-1
When to See Health Care Provider
• Signs and symptoms of fracture or dislocation
• Injury causes severe pain
• Cannot walk
• Tenderness or numbness
• Injured area looks different than other extremity
• Injured joint cannot move
• Redness or red streaks from injured area
• Area has been injured before
• If you are unsure of seriousness or treatment
Removing a Ring
• Jewelry can cut off circulation with swelling
• Try to remove before swelling occurs
• To remove ring
- Soak finger in cold water or wrap in cold pack
- Put oil or butter on finger
Muscle Injuries
• Typically caused by overexertion, careless or sudden movement, poor body
mechanics
• Common injuries include strains, contusions and cramps
• Usually less serious than bone and joint injuries
• Repeated injury can lead to chronic problem
Strains
• Tearing of muscle or tendon
• Occurs when muscle stretched too far by overexerting
• Causes pain, swelling and sometimes inability to use muscle
• Can be prevented by avoiding overexertion, good body mechanics, sports safety
Muscle Cramps
• Tightening of muscle
• Usually occurs from prolonged use but may have no apparent cause
• Most common in thigh and calf muscle
• Different from heat cramps
• May last a few seconds to 15 minutes
• May be prevented with flexibility exercises and stretches
