for first aid

1. Fractures, Sprains,
and Dislocations

2. Bones and muscles
 Skeleton
bones
ligaments
support, protection, movement
 Muscles
muscle
tendons
movement, vital functions

3. Fractures
 A break or a crack in a bone is called
a fracture.
 Many types of fractures are difficult to
determine.
 If a fracture is suspected, it’s wise to
get it checked out

4. Fracture Categories
 All fractures are one of two types
1) Closed – skin over fracture is not
broken
2) Open/Compound – where the
skin over the fracture is broken.
The bone may be visible.

5. Types of Fractures
 Hairline
 Stress
 Complete
 Greenstick
 Comminuted
 Depression
 Complicated
 Transverse
 Oblique
 Spiral

6. Hairline Fracture
 A very thin crack or break in the bone
Hairline fracture of the foot

7. Stress Fracture
 Fracture caused by repetitive stress to
a bone

8. Complete Fracture
 When a bone breaks into two
separate pieces

9. Greenstick Fracture
 When the bone cracks on one side
only, not all the way through
Ulnar greenstick fracture

10. Comminuted Fracture
 When the bone is broken into more
than two pieces or is crushed

11. Spiral Fracture
 Bone is broken by twisting
Spiral fracture of femur

12. Depression Fracture
 When the skull is fractured inward

13. Complicated Fracture
 When a broken bone may have
caused damage to internal organs
 There is more concern than the
fracture itself

14. Transverse Fracture
 When the bone is broken straight
across

15. Oblique Fracture
 When the bone is broken on a steep
angle
fibula

16. Signs or Symptoms of a
Fracture
 Pain and tenderness
 Loss of function
 A wound (with bone sticking out)
 Deformity
 Unnatural movement
 Shock
 Crepitus (grinding) (don’t test for this)
 Swelling and bruising

18. Sprains

19. What is sprain?
 The bones at a joint are held together
by tough bands called ligaments.
A sprain is an injury to a ligament
 1st
degree – stretched
 2nd
degree – partially torn
 3rd
degree – completely torn
 Most common are the fingers, wrist,
ankle, and knee

20. Signs and Symptoms of a
Sprain
 Pain that may be severe and increase
with the movement of the joint
 Loss of function
 Swelling and discoloration

23. Treatment Sprains
 Therefore, they should not try to treat the
injury other than by immobilization and
elevation.

25. Strains
 Involves a stretching and/or tearing of
muscles or tendons. Strains most often
involve the muscles in the neck, back,
thigh, or calf.
 May be difficult to distinguish from
sprains or fractures.
 When uncertain whether an injury is a
strain, sprain, or fracture, treat the injury
as if it is a fracture.

27. Dislocations

28. What is a dislocation?
 When the bones at a joint are no longer in proper
contact.
 Can be caused by severe twisting or indirect force, or
even a muscular contraction
 Most frequently dislocated joints
 Shoulder
 Elbow
 Thumb
 Finger
 Jaw
 Knee

29. Signs and Symptoms of a
Dislocation
 Deformity or abnormal appearance
 Pain and tenderness aggravated by
movement
 Loss of normal function
 Joint may be locked in one position
 Swelling of the joint

31. Treatment Dislocation
 Do not try to relocate a suspected
dislocation. They should immobilize
the joint until professional medical
help is available.

32. General Treatment Principles
 Stop the activity.
 Survey the injured area.
 First Aid if qualified.
 Get help if not.
 Determine if additional medical attention is
necessary.

33. RICE
 R - Rest
 I - Ice
 C - Compression
 E - Elevate

34. Splinting
 Splinting is the most common procedure for
immobilizing an injury.
 Cardboard is the material typically used for
“makeshift” splints but a variety of materials
can be used.
Cardboard are turned up to form a “mold”
in which the injured limb can rest.

35. Possible items for Splinting
 Soft materials. Towels, blankets, or
pillows, tied with bandaging materials
or soft cloths.
 Rigid materials. A board, metal strip,
folded magazine or newspaper, or
other rigid item.

36. Soft Splints
 Splinting Using a Towel
 Splinting using a towel, in which the
towel is rolled up and wrapped around
the limb, then tied in place.
Pillow splint
Pillow splint, in which the pillow
is wrapped around the limb and
tied.

37. Blanket as a Soft Splint
 Splinting using a
blanket in which
the victim’s legs
are immobilized by
tying blankets at
intervals from mid-
thigh to feet.

38. Anatomical Splints
 Created by securing a fractured bone
to an adjacent unfractured bone.
 Anatomical splints are usually
reserved for fingers and toes but, in
an emergency, legs may also be
splinted together.

39. Guidelines for Splinting
1. Support the injured area.
2. Splint injury in the position that
you find it.
3. Don’t try to realign bones.
4. Check for color, warmth, and
sensation.
5. Immobilize above and below
the injury.