Transcript Lesson 8: Injuries to Muscles, Bones, and Joints

Injuries to Muscles, Bones, and Joints
• Injuries to muscles, bones and joints often
occur as a result of accidents, such as falls,
vehicle crashes or forced impact with
equipment or machinery.
• There are 4 types of muscle, bone and joint
injuries:
– Fracture, Dislocation, Sprain and Strain
Fractures
• A break or disruption in bone tissue.
– Fractures are commonly caused by direct, indirect
or twisting forces.
– Fractures are classified as open or closed:
• Open fractures occur when the skin over the fracture
site is broken
• Closed fractures leave the skin unbroken and are more
common than open fractures
Dislocation
• A displacement of separation of a bone from
its normal position at the joint.
• As with a fracture, dislocation can be caused
by severe direct, indirect or twisting force
Sprain
• A partial or complete tearing or stretching of
ligaments and other tissues at a joint.
• A sprain usually results when the bones that
form a joint are forced beyond their normal
range.
Strain
• A stretching and tearing of muscles or tendon
fibers
• A strain is sometimes called a muscle pull or
tear. Strains often result from overexertion,
such as lifting something too heavy or working
a muscle too head.
Care for Musculoskeletal Injuries
• Giving proper care is more important than
identifying the type of injury
– The care you give is the same whether the injury is
a fracture, dislocation, sprain or strain.
• Assume any injury to an extremity includes a
bone fracture.
• The general care for injuries to muscle, bone
and joints includes following R.I.C.E.
R.I.C.E.
• Rest: do not move or straighten the injured area.
• Immobilize: stabilize the injured area in the
position found. Splint the injured part ONLY if the
person must be moved and it does not cause
more pain.
• Cold: apply ice to the injured area for periods of
20 minutes.
• Elevate: do not elevate the injured part if it
causes more pain.
Video:
Injuries to Muscles, Bones and Joints
Splinting
• A method of immobilizing an injured extremity
and should ONLY be used if you have to move or
transport a person to seek medical attention and
if splinting does not cause more pain.
• If you have to splint:
– Splint an injury in the position in which you find
– Splint the injured area and the joints or bones above
and below the injury site.
– Check for circulation (feeling, warmth, and color)
before and after splinting.
Types of Splints
• Soft splints include folded blankets, towels,
pillows and a sling.
• Rigid splints include boards, metal strips and
folded magazines or newspapers.
– Use a triangular bandage to secure the rigid or soft
splinting material in place
• Anatomic splints use an uninjured body part as a
splint to immobilize an injured area.
– You can use tape to secure an uninjured finger to the
injured
Head, Neck and Back Injuries
• These injuries may cause an unintentional
death or life-long neurologic damage.
• If you suspect that a person has a head, neck
or back injury, tell him/her to respond verbally
to any questions you ask and to avoid nodding
or shaking his/her head.
• Goal is to minimize movement
Care for Head/Neck/Back
• Call or have someone else call 9-1-1
• Minimize movement of the head, neck, and
back by placing your hands on both sides of
the person’s head. Maintain an open airway.
Have the person remain in the position in
which you found him/her until advanced
medical personnel arrive and take over.
• Monitor the ABC’s