PPT for musculoskeletal injuries

1. First Aid for Colleges
and Universities
10 Edition
Chapter 11
© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.
Musculoskeletal
Injuries
Slide Presentation prepared by
Randall Benner, M.Ed., NREMT-P

2. Learning Objectives
• Describe common findings with musculoskeletal
injuries.
• Describe and demonstrate first aid care for
– Sprains
– Dislocations
– Strains
– Cramps
• Differentiate between an open and closed injury
to the bone.
© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

3. Learning Objectives
• Describe how to assess a painful, swollen,
deformed extremity.
• Describe and demonstrate first aid care for a
victim with a fracture.
• State the reasons for splinting.
• List the general rules of splinting.
• List the complications of splinting.
© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

4. Introduction
• Muscle and bone injuries are common
emergencies.
• Injuries range from simple to life-threatening.
• The ability of the First Aider to discern the level
of emergency, and provide efficient and
appropriate care, can prevent further injury and
in some cases spare victims from permanent
disability or death.
© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

5. The Musculoskeletal System
• Functions of the skeletal system
– Gives shape to the body
– Supports the body
– Provides the foundation for locomotion or movement
– Protects major body organs
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6. The Musculoskeletal System
• Components of the musculoskeletal system
– Bones
– Joints
– Muscles
– Tendons
– Ligaments
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7. Common Injuries
• Sprains
– Injury to the ligaments
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8. Common Injuries
• Strains
– Injury to the muscles
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9. Common Injuries
• Fractures
– Injury to the bones
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10. Common Injuries
• Dislocations
– Injury to the joints
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11. Common Injuries
• Contusions
– Bruising of muscle tissues
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12. Sprains, Dislocations, Strains,
and Cramps
• Sprain symptoms
– Pain and swelling
– Deformity
– Skin discoloration
– Loss of function
• Sprain management
– Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation (RICE)
– Active EMS or transport victim to medical facility.
© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

13. Sprains, Dislocations, Strains,
and Cramps
• Dislocation symptoms
– Pain, tenderness, deformity
– Difficulty or inability to move joint
– Possible loss of motion or pulses below injury
• Dislocation management
– Assess quality of the victim’s pulse and sensory
condition.
– Immobilize in the position found.
– Provide RICE interventions.
– Treat for shock and activate EMS.
– Do NOT try to straighten ("reduce") the dislocation.
© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

14. Sprains, Dislocations, Strains,
and Cramps
• Example of joint immobilization (cravat with pad
and sling)
© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

15. Sprains, Dislocations, Strains,
and Cramps
• Cramp symptoms
– Uncontrolled muscle spasms
– Diminishment in voluntary function
– Pain or pressure sensations
• Cramp management
– Do not massage cramps.
– Stretch the affected muscle and apply steady
pressure.
– Apply ice pack to muscle, consider electrolyte drink.
– Activate EMS or arrange transport.
© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

16. Sprains, Dislocations, Strains,
and Cramps
• Muscle contusion symptoms
– Pain and tenderness
– Swelling
– Discoloration (may occur hours later)
• Muscle contusion management
– Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation (RICE)
– Active EMS or transport to medical facility.
© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

17. Injuries to Bones
• What is a bone fracture?
– Crack or break in the bone
• Closed or open
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18. Types of Fractures
• Varies based on damage to bone
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19. Examples of Fractures
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Closed fracture of the
humerus.
Open fracture of the
fibula.
Closed fracture (observe
the deformity).

20. Mechanisms of Injury
• Direct force
• Indirect force
• Twisting force
© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

21. Sprains, Dislocations, Strains,
and Cramps
• Bone injury symptoms
– Deformity, loss of function
– Pain and tenderness
– Visible signs of injury
– Swelling, discoloration, crepitus (grating)
• Bone injury management
– Uncover and manually stabilize.
– Treat overlying soft tissue trauma.
– Assess motor, sensory, blood-flow capacities.
– Stabilize with equipment, if possible.
– Treat with RICE procedures.
© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

22. Immobilizing a Bone Injury
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An open tibia fracture.

23. Immobilizing a Bone Injury
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Support and stabilize the limb above and below the injury,
control bleeding, locate a pulse, and apply a splint.

24. Splinting
• What is a splint?
– Any device used to immobilize a fracture or
dislocation
– Can be made from almost any rigid material
– The First Aider should use splints only when properly
trained and equipped to do so
© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

25. Splinting
• General rules for splinting
– Perform only when trained to do so.
– Expose injured site and cover open wounds.
– Do not cause more pain or injury.
– Immobilize joints above and below the injury site.
– Splint the injury in position found, prior to moving the
patient.
– Pad the splint for comfort.
– Treat the patient for shock, if present.
© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

26. Types of Splinting by Body Area
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27. Types of Splints
• Traction Splints
– Used by EMTs for immobilizing fractures to the thigh
(femur)
• Improvised Splints
– First Aider will likely need to create improvised splints
from various objects found on-scene.
– May also use self-splints by securing an injured body
part to an uninjured body part
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28. Rigid Splints
• Made of inflexible material
• Used for long bone and joint immobilization
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29. Rigid Splints
• Made of inflexible material
• Can be made from other materials in an
emergency
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30. Hazards of Improper Splinting
• Compression and damage to nerves and blood
vessels
– Poor distal perfusion (blood-flow from extremities) to
injury site
– Movement of bone ends if splint too lose
– Aggravation of bones or injury site
© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

31. Splinting a Long Bone
– Manually stabilize the bone.
– Assess pulse, sensory, and motor functions
below the injury site.
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32. Splinting a Long Bone
– Measure the splint.
– Splint should immobilize bone and joints above and
below the injury site.
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33. Splinting a Long Bone
© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

34. Splinting a Joint
– Manually stabilize the bone.
– Assess pulse, sensory, and
motor functions below the
injury site.
– Immobilize injury in the
position found.
© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

35. Splinting a Joint
– Measure the splint.
– Splint should immobilize
the bones above and
below the joint
© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

36. Summary
• Injuries to the musculoskeletal system are often
graphic and painful, but rarely fatal.
• First aid care consists of immobilization
as appropriate, RICE treatment, monitoring, and
reassurance.
• Never attempt to straighten ("reduce") a
dislocation.
• Improper treatment can result in additional pain
and unnecessary complications.
© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.