oft tissue injuries (STI) are when trauma or overuse occurs to muscles, tendons or ligaments. Most soft tissue injuries are the result of a sudden unexpected or uncontrolled movement like stepping awkwardly off a curb and rolling over your ankle.

1. Care of the patient with Soft Tissue Injury
Ghaffar Ahmed
Lecturer INC

2. Objectives
 Review the normal anatomy & physiology of Musculoskeletal
system.
 Define the soft tissue injury.
 Discuss the different types of soft tissue injuries.
 Identify etiology and clinical manifestations of soft tissue injury.
 Discuss the management of different types of soft tissue injury.
 Provide comprehensive discharge teaching to patient with soft
tissue injury.

3. Parts of the Musculoskeletal System
 Skeleton
 Muscles
 Cartilage
 Tendons
 Ligaments
 Joints, and
 Other connective tissues are all part of the musculoskeletal system,
which work together to provide the body with support, protection,
and movement.

4. Musculoskeletal disorders
• Musculoskeletal disorders commonly include:
1. Soft Tissue Injuries (strains and sprains, Dislocations)
2. Fractures (open, closed, long bone, pelvic)

6. Soft Tissue Injuries
 Soft tissue injuries are those injuries (excluding fractures)
affecting the joints and muscles of the limbs.
 Sprains, strains and dislocations are considered soft tissue injuries

7. Soft Tissue Injuries
Two classifications when considering soft
tissue injuries:
• – Closed wounds
• – Open wounds

8. Contusions
 Small blood vessels rupturing
and bleeding into soft tissues

9. Strains
 An injury or tear to a muscle or tendon is
called a strain.
 Overuse, overstretching of muscle
 Incomplete muscle tear
 Sudden pain
 Local tenderness

10. Sprain
 Sprains involve the over-extension of a joint,
usually with partial rupture of the ligaments.
There may also be blood vessel, nerve and
tendon damage.
 Injury to ligament surrounding joint that is
caused by twisting motion
 Fingers, ankles, knee

11. Sign and Symptoms
 Sudden pain in the joint
 Loss of power and ability to bear weight
 Bruising
 Swelling
 Site becomes tender, painful to palpate

12. • If you suspect someone may have a strain or sprain, remember
the acronym RICE

13. Treatment
 R – Rest
 I – Immobilization
 C – Cold (24-48 hrs)
 E – Elevate
 Elastic compression bandage
 Heat after acute inflammatory stage
 Progressive exercises 2-5 days
 Splinting
 Pain management
 NSAIDS, Narcotics

14. Subluxation and Dislocation

15. Subluxation
An incomplete or partial
dislocation of a joint
Examples
 Vertebrae

16. Dislocation
Bones completely disarticulated.
No parts of articular surfaces are in contact.

17. Dislocation
• Congenital,
or present at
birth
• Trauma
• spontaneous
or pathologic
Causes

18. Signs and Symptoms
 Visibly deformed or out of place
 Swollen or discolored
 Painful
 May have some temporary paralysis of the injured limb
 Change in length of extremity

19. SPORTS RELATED INJURIES
• Tendinitis
• Prevention
• Inflammation of tendon
• Runners, basketball players
• To help prevent a dislocation
• Take precautions to avoid falls.
• Wear protective gear when you play contact
sports.

23. Reference
• Brunner, L. S., & Suddarth, D. S. (2004). Text book of Medical-
Surgical nursing (10th e.d). Phi;ladephia: Lippincott.