7.6.3 First Aid Treatment for Disorders of Skeleton

Prompt and proper first aid increases the chances of a complete recovery. Usually, the severity of the bone fracture and dislocation of joints depend on its cause and the affected part.

If you suspect someone has dislocated a joint or fractured bone, you can help by:

Summary Table of Joint Injuries

Summary Table of First Aid

Intermediate Level

Joint Injuries

Causes of Dislocation

Treatment of Sprain

First Aid for Skeletal Disorders

Formula / Mathematical Form

Not applicable to this topic.

Solved Example

Not applicable to this topic (descriptive topic).

Important Points

• 1. Torsion or sudden impact to a joint can be devastating.
• 2. Joint injuries include dislocation and sprain.
• 3. Dislocation is a joint that slips out of place.
• 4. Dislocation occurs when bones are forced from normal positions.
• 5. Severe dislocation can cause tearing of muscles, ligaments, and tendons.
• 6. Symptoms of dislocation: swelling, intense pain, immobility.
• 7. Causes of dislocation: blow, fall, trauma, disease, rheumatoid arthritis.
• 8. Treatment of dislocation: reduction by professional; surgery if needed.
• 9. Sprain is an injury to a ligament.
• 10. Commonly injured ligaments: ankle, knee, wrist.
• 11. Ligaments injured by being stretched too far.
• 12. Sprain should be rested.
• 13. Sprains treated with icing and physical therapy.
• 14. Dressings, bandages, or ace-wraps immobilize the sprain.
• 15. First aid increases chances of complete recovery.
• 16. First aid: immobilize, ice, comfort, support, ambulance.
• 17. Do not attempt to manipulate, pull, or re-align the injured joint.
• 18. Apply ice pack to reduce swelling.
• 19. Assist the victim to a position of comfort.
• 20. Dislocations involving hip, ankle, and leg joints require ambulance.

Remember

• - Dislocation = joint slips out of place
• - Sprain = injury to a ligament
• - Commonly injured ligaments = ankle, knee, wrist
• - First aid = immobilize, ice, comfort, support, ambulance
• - Dislocation symptoms = swelling, intense pain, immobility
• - Sprain treatment = rest, icing, physical therapy
• - Do not manipulate = leave to professional
• - Ice pack = reduces swelling
• - Ambulance = for hip, ankle, leg dislocations and compound fractures

Common Mistakes

• 1. Confusing dislocation and sprain — Dislocation = joint out of place; sprain = ligament injury.
• 2. Mixing up the symptoms — Dislocation: swelling, intense pain, immobility; sprain: pain, swelling.
• 3. Forgetting the role of first aid — First aid increases chances of complete recovery.
• 4. Thinking you should manipulate the joint — Do not manipulate; leave to professional.
• 5. Mixing up the treatments — Dislocation: reduction; sprain: rest, icing, physical therapy.
• 6. Forgetting the common sites of sprain — Ankle, knee, wrist.
• 7. Believing all dislocations need surgery — Some can be reduced without surgery.
• 8. Mixing up the causes — Dislocation: blow, fall, trauma; sprain: stretched ligament.
• 9. Forgetting the role of ice — Ice reduces swelling.
• 10. Thinking first aid is not important — Proper first aid is essential for recovery.

Quick Revision

Torsion or sudden impact to the side of a joint can be devastating. We will discuss here dislocation and sprain. A dislocated joint is a joint that slips out of place. It occurs when the ends of bones are forced from their normal positions. A severe dislocation can cause tearing of the muscles, ligaments and tendons that support the joint. Symptoms include; swelling, intense pain, and immobility of the affected joint. The most common causes are a blow, fall, or other trauma to the joint. In some cases, dislocations are caused by a disease or a defective ligament. Rheumatoid arthritis can also cause joint dislocation. A dislocated joint usually can only be successfully 'reduced' into its normal position by a trained medical professional. Surgery may be needed to repair or tighten stretched ligaments. A sprain is an injury to a ligament. Commonly injured ligaments are in the ankle, knee and wrist. The ligaments can be injured by being stretched too far from their normal position. The sprain should be rested. Sprains can usually be treated conservatively with treatments such as icing and physical therapy. Dressings, bandages, or ace-wraps should be used to immobilize the sprain and provide support. Prompt and proper first aid increases the chances of a complete recovery. If you suspect someone has dislocated a joint or fractured bone, you can help by: (a) immobilizing the fractured bone or dislocated joint but do not attempt to manipulate, pull or re-align the injured joint or bone. Leave this task to a professional (b) If possible; apply ice pack or cold pack over the affected part to reduce swelling. (c) Assist the victim to position of comfort. (d) Provide support to the affected area such as using sling or splints. Listen to what the victim tells you. (e) Dislocations involving the hip, ankle and leg joints and compound fractures require ambulance to transport the victim.

60-Second Revision

• Dislocation = joint slips out of place
• Sprain = injury to a ligament
• Commonly injured ligaments = ankle, knee, wrist
• First aid = immobilize, ice, comfort, support, ambulance
• Dislocation symptoms = swelling, intense pain, immobility
• Sprain treatment = rest, icing, physical therapy
• Do not manipulate = leave to professional
• Ice pack = reduces swelling
• Ambulance = for hip, ankle, leg dislocations and compound fractures
• Warning: Do not attempt to manipulate, pull, or re-align the injured joint or bone

NEXT TOPIC

• Chapter:
• 7. Support and Movement

• Topic:
• 7.7 MUSCLES

Source: