Bone Injuries Fractures a partial or complete break

Bone Injuries

• Fractures – a partial or complete break in the bone – Causes of fractures: • • • Direct impact Compression Indirect impact Torsion Diseases – It is common for injury to occur to neighboring tissue

Signs & Symptoms • • Pain Deformity Swelling Bruising Numbness/Tingling Pale or cold skin Crepitation (rattling sound)

Types of Fractures • Simple Fracture (closed) – Fracture of any type that doesn’t break the skin • Compound Fracture (Open) – Complete break in bone in which the bone breaks the skin

• Avulsion fracture – part of bone breaks off where tendon/ligament attach

• Greenstick Fracture – incomplete break in a long bone (typically when bone is partially bent) – Common in children because bones are more pliable

• Comminuted Fracture – bone shatters in 3 or more pieces – Common in contact sports

• Stress Fracture – caused when the bone is stressed from: – Overuse, poor muscle balance, lack of flexibility, weak ligaments – Stress on bone is greater than its ability to compensate • Bone gradually deteriorates • Common in lower leg and foot

• Epiphyseal Plate Fracture (Growth Plate) – Fracture at the growth plate – Only in growing kids – Common in wrist and ankle

• Impacted Fracture – A bone fragment is embedded into another bone fragment

• Longitudinal fracture – splits or cracks lengthwise – Ex: Hard landing after a jump

• Spiral Fracture – break is S shaped – Common in basketball b/c player plants foot and twists body

• Blowout fracture – break in the floor of orbital socket – direct blow to eye

Treatment (what you can do) • If compound – Control bleeding • Put person in most comfortable position • Seek Medical Attention (Get them to doctor or call 9 -1 -1) • Immobilize injury (splint) – Will decrease pain – Prevent further injury

• Elevate (only if is doesn’t cause further pain) • Ice • Monitor Vital Signs – Especially blood circulation

Treatment (What doctors do) • Bones heal naturally • Determine if bone is in place – If in place – put in cast and let heal – If it isn’t in place • Set it, sometimes requires surgery • Healing time average 4 weeks