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DISCLAIMER:
The information contained in this document has been compiled from sources believed to be reliable at the time and is presented here as a study aid and for general information use only. This information is not intended to replace or supercede the information or procedures outlined in your first aid textbook, other officially issued study materials or government published acts or legislative documents.
Whilst every effort has been made to ensure that the information is accurate at the time of publication, the authors are not responsible for any loss, liability, damage or injury that may be suffered or incurred by any person in connection with the information contained on this site, or by anyone who receives first aid treatment from a reader or user of this information. |
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Closed fracture – where the skin over the fracture is not broken
Open fracture – where the skin over the fracture is broken – this can cause serious infection, even if the wound is very small.
Depression fracture – skull is fractured inward
Complicated fracture – broken bone has caused damage to internal organs
Transverse fracture – bone is broken straight across
Spiral fracture – bone is broken by twisting
Oblique fracture – bone is broken on a steep angle
Greenstick fracture – bone is not broken right through
Fracture – signs & symptoms:
• Pain and tenderness, it is worse when the injury is touched or moved.
• Loss of function – the casualty cannot use the injured part
• A wound – the bone ends may be sticking out
• Deformity – any unnatural shape or unnatural position of a bone or joint
• Unnatural movement
• Shock – this increases with eh severity of the injury
• Crepitus- grating sensation or sound that can often be felt or heard when the broke ends of the bone rub together
• Swelling and bruising – fluid accumulates in the tissues around the fracture.
Joints – when a joint is forced to move more than it can this can happen:
• The bones may break = fracture
• The ligaments may stretch and tear, resulting in a sprain
• The bone ends may move out of proper position relative to each other, resulting in a dislocation.
Sprains – A sprain is an injury to a ligament. Most serious is a completely torn ligament, there is partly torn and stretched ligament.
• Pain that may be severe and increase with movement of the joint
• Loss of function
• Swelling and discoloration
Dislocations - When the bone surfaces that come together at a joint are no longer in proper contact, the joint is dislocated
• Deformity or abnormal appearance, a dislocated shoulder may make the arm look longer
• Pain and tenderness aggravated by movement
• Loss of normal function; the joint may be locked in one position
• Swelling of the joint
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