First aid for bone fractures

Despite the fact that our bones are strong and can withstand a certain pressure, their fractures, i.e. damage is very common. Such violations of the integrity of bone tissue can vary depending on the complexity - complete or incomplete, closed and open, with or without changes in the form of displacement. If a problem arises, you cannot do without the help of doctors, so you should contact a traumatologist as soon as possible. First aid for fractures will help prevent complications and improve the victim’s condition before doctors arrive.

How to determine whether a bone is broken or not

The speed of detection of a fracture is the key to proper treatment and rapid recovery. Such damage may be indicated by:

• intense pain in the area of ​​injury;
• violation of the joint shape or bone structure;
• loss of limb functionality;
• excessive mobility of the arms or legs;
• audibility of crunching in bone fragments during palpation.

There are also external signs of damage. These include swelling in the soft tissues located above the fracture, as well as the appearance of hemorrhages. If the damage is open, the wound will be lacerated and bone fragments can be found in it.

If a child is injured, it is necessary to ask him to move a limb or finger. If there is pain or difficulty making a movement, a fracture is confirmed. However, you can reliably verify this type of damage using x-ray results.

Symptoms

You can suspect an injury based on the following signs:

• The pain is not localized in the injured area, but spreads to neighboring areas, increasing sharply with load and movement;
• An extensive hematoma is noted above the damaged bone. To a greater extent, the symptom manifests itself with injury to the fingers and hand;
• With displacement, it is usually accompanied by deformation of the damaged area, the limb may become shorter;
• Movement of joints close to injury is limited;
• By palpating the site of injury, the doctor can detect a characteristic crunching sound (crepitus) of displaced fragments;
• If the injury results in rupture of nerves, the victim’s sensitivity in the limb is impaired and paralysis is possible;

IMPORTANT! To confirm, it is necessary to take an x-ray of the injured limb, since similar symptoms may indicate dislocations, bruises, and sprains.

First aid for open and closed fractures

If you meet a victim with a fracture, then you need to take three main actions:

1. For complete immobilization, fixation is performed by applying a splint or splint. Cardboard and flat boards can be used. The splint is not applied directly to the skin. There should be at least one layer of fabric or other soft material between it and the body.
2. The bandage should be secured with a bandage.
3. If possible, apply ice to the damaged area.

If damage to the limbs occurs, the bandage for fixation should be applied to cover 2 or more joints on both sides of the fracture site. If the anatomical features do not allow the installation of a splint, then the bone is fixed to the body, as, for example, if the collarbone or finger is damaged.

Victims with a hip fracture are not moved, but left in a horizontal position. Problems with the pelvic bone require placing the person on his back in the frog position. If the ribs are injured, then bandage the chest with a height at the level of exhalation.

A spinal fracture becomes a serious problem. In this case, it is necessary to lay the victim with his back on a leveled plane and immobilize him. When already in a horizontal position, the board is slipped under the person without moving the body.

In case of an open fracture, it is important to comply with the following conditions:

• you cannot insert bone fragments yourself;
• the wound is treated with an antiseptic;
• if intense bleeding is observed, it is stopped by applying a tourniquet;
• a sterile bandage is placed on the wound;
• the damaged area is immobilized.

Rehabilitation

At the end of the period of wearing a cast, the patient has a question about how to develop his arm after a fracture. Prolonged immobilization of an injured limb leads to muscle atrophy. The skin under the cast becomes pale from lack of air, and the limb itself loses weight. Many patients are familiar with the feeling of a foreign hand. In some cases, pain persists at the site of injury, which subsides only after the muscle tissue is regenerated. The timing and methods of rehabilitation therapy are determined by the attending physician. The process can take up to six months.

For closed-type rehabilitation, after removing the cast, a course of massage is prescribed, aimed at reducing swelling and improving tissue trophism. The procedure affects the areas of the cervical-occipital region and upper chest. Only gentle massage movements are performed. First, healthy areas are massaged, only after several sessions do they begin to treat the damaged segment.

Physiotherapeutic interventions on a broken limb begin even before the plaster is removed. Already on the 3rd day after the injury, it is possible to prescribe interference therapy (exposure to alternating currents) to reduce swelling and pain. Ultraviolet irradiation of the healthy arm in an area symmetrical to the injury is useful; this achieves reflex improvement in the affected limb.

Magnetic and laser therapy, UHF, electrophoresis and other physical procedures are prescribed following the removal of plaster. At the same time, it is recommended to undergo a course of exercise therapy with special emphasis on the affected joints. A set of exercises is performed at least 3 approaches per day. The load increases gradually, part of the course of therapeutic exercises is carried out in water.

Exercises to restore function:

1. First you need to develop a brush; a piece of plasticine will help with this. You should squeeze it until the mass warms up and softens. After this, set the plasticine aside so that it hardens again. The exercise should be repeated at least 10 times per approach, 4 times a day.
2. Press your palms tightly against each other at chest level, tilt your hands alternately towards your right and left wrist. It is necessary to perform the exercise with an injured limb with caution.
3. To restore mobility in your fingers, it is useful to throw a tennis ball against a wall and catch it. The exercise should be performed carefully, avoiding sudden movements.
4. Rolling small round objects in your palms helps restore dexterity to your fingers. A couple of ping pong balls will work great.
5. Clap your hands alternately in front of you and behind your back.
6. Roll the pencil on the table with your palm.
7. Curl your fingers toward your palm as if counting.
8. Use the pad of your thumb to apply pressure to the remaining fingers of your palm.
9. Sort through the beads or grains of buckwheat and pearl barley scattered on the table.

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If the fracture is not accompanied by inflammation, mud therapy, applications with blue clay, baths with pine extract or sea salt are recommended for rehabilitation. These procedures strengthen muscles weakened by prolonged immobilization, help develop the injured limb, and have a general tonic effect.

The last step in restoring functions lost after injury is occupational therapy. For these purposes, handicrafts, weeding and other non-labor-intensive types of work on a personal plot, and minor chores around the house are useful.

IMPORTANT! You cannot refuse rehabilitation procedures after removing the plaster. This can lead to various complications, including joint contracture.

Diet

Research has proven that a number of foods can speed up bone tissue regeneration. Muscle damage causes the body to lose protein. Consequently, to restore the injured area, the protein contained in the blood is consumed. Hypoproteinemia develops, the general condition of the body worsens, bone and cartilage tissue are formed much more slowly.

For a quick recovery, the patient must consume at least 150 grams of protein of plant and animal origin in equal parts per day. Products containing gelatin or another gelling agent (jelly, fruit jelly) have a beneficial effect on bone restoration.

Calcium is the main component for bone repair, but its consumption is useless in the absence of vitamin D. A sufficient intake of both substances is necessary in the body.

Calcium is found in dairy products, nuts, legumes, seafood, vegetables and fruits. Rich in vitamin D: fatty fish, egg yolk, liver, vegetable oils, oats, parsley, potatoes.

In addition, the patient’s diet should be enriched with vitamin C, which is rich in citrus fruits, parsley, rose hips and bell peppers.

A number of foods should be excluded from the diet. These include alcohol, which interferes with the formation of bone tissue. Phosphoric acid flushes calcium from the body; you should avoid sweet sodas that contain it. Drinks with caffeine and chocolate have similar negative properties. Fatty foods interfere with the body's absorption of calcium and should also be avoided.

During the recovery period, you should adhere to a fractional diet, dividing the daily amount of food into 5-6 small portions. You need to consume enough liquid, giving preference to drinking water without gases.

If a fracture of the arm is suspected, the symptoms do not always provide an objective picture of the injury. The victim must be taken to a medical facility as quickly as possible to receive qualified assistance. If you do not neglect the course of rehabilitation and the advice of nutritionists, the consequences of injuries that are not complicated by displacements and damage to soft tissues are successfully eliminated. The functionality of an injured arm can be fully restored.

First aid for children with fractures

It is sometimes difficult for young patients to tell where they feel pain. Therefore, it is necessary to carefully examine the condition of the victim and identify the location of the fracture.

The sequence of action is similar to that for injuries to adult patients. Since children are not very resistant to pain, after immobilizing the damaged part of the body, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Symptoms

In some cases, a fracture of the arm can be diagnosed after a visual examination (the joint is too loose, the bone sticks out or is significantly bent in the direction opposite to the movement, a crunching sound is heard when moving). An open fracture is characterized by bleeding, damage to the skin and visibility of the bone.

The closed type of injury can be without displacement (the position of the bone remains normal). This situation requires a qualified examination in order to accurately determine the nature of the injury and not confuse it with a bruise or dislocation. Other symptoms:

• sharp and sharp pain sensations transmitted to other parts of the body;
• swelling of large diameter;
• blue skin;
• the arm may become shorter;
• a feeling of cold a little further from the site of injury;
• low mobility or its complete absence.

The diagnosis is confirmed after an x-ray.

First aid for sprained limbs

Dislocation occurs as a result of injury to the limbs, due to a sharp muscle contraction, after physical impact, or when parents excessively stretch the child’s arm. The injury is accompanied by a specific pop and the appearance of pain with limited movement. Articular deformation is observed, swelling appears.

In the process of providing assistance you need to:

1. Immobilize the limb using a splint on the joint.
2. Apply cold, excluding heat and compresses.
3. Pain relief with an analgesic.
4. Treat the bruise with alcohol or hydrogen peroxide.

Treatment

For qualified help, you should contact a traumatologist at the hospital.

For mild to moderate injuries, a conservative treatment method is used. The doctor performs a closed reduction - sets the bone fragments, after first numbing the limb. The results of the manipulation are verified using x-ray examination. If the displacement is successfully eliminated, the patient is given a plaster cast.

Surgery is indicated if closed reduction does not eliminate the displacement, as well as in cases of severe multiple injuries. The success of the operation depends on how quickly it is performed. Osteosynthesis is performed using various clamps (wire, titanium pin, plate, nail, etc.). At the end of the operation, a plaster cast is applied. Fixing structures are removed six months to a year after installation. Sometimes recovery from a broken arm takes up to several years. Elderly patients do not have retainers removed.

If the injury is accompanied by nerve damage, it is necessary to consult a neurologist and prescribe concomitant treatment.

How long an arm fracture takes to heal depends on the location and extent of the damage:

• in case of injury to the shoulder, collarbone or forearm, the cast is worn for 6-8 weeks;
• healing of the radius fracture occurs within a month;
• injuries to the fingers and metacarpal bones require fixation for 3-4 weeks;
• In case of displaced injuries, fusion takes 2 weeks longer.

During the healing period, the patient is prescribed calcium-containing medications and, if necessary, a course of painkillers. The use of medications for easy absorption of the vitamin is also important.

Is it possible to treat a fracture at home?

The main condition for effective treatment of a fracture is prompt consultation with a doctor for medical help. After the manipulation, medications with anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and decongestant effects are prescribed. At the next stage, the patient is often sent home, where folk remedies can be taken to speed up recovery.

Common Mistakes

There is an important rule in providing first aid - do not harm the victim. The following mistakes should be avoided:

1. If an accident occurs or a person falls from a height, then you should not touch him or move him unnecessarily.
2. You cannot set dislocations or return bones to their original location.
3. When immobilizing, remember that forced straightening of the limb is not allowed.
4. If you don't know how to apply a tourniquet correctly, don't do it. Minor bleeding can be stopped with a tight bandage, finger compression, or tamponing. When applying a tourniquet, observe the duration of clamping.
5. If there is an open fracture, do not touch the bone fragments. Foreign objects should not be removed from wounds.
6. In case of injuries to the spine, hip bone, or skull, extreme caution should be taken.

Classification

Bone damage comes in different forms, in different locations, and varies in severity. Modern medicine distinguishes the following categories:

• Type of fracture – closed, open (without or with a rupture of the skin, respectively).
• Location - on the bone itself (diaphyseal), near its end (metaphyseal) and at the very end (epiphyseal).
• Shape – longitudinal, transverse, screw-shaped, star-shaped, V- and T-shaped, crushed and splintered.
• The number of affected areas is one (only one bone is affected, which means an isolated type), two or more (multiple type).
• Fragments - cause displacement or not. The displacement itself also differs in its width, length and angle of inclination (it can be primary, if it occurs from a heavy load, and secondary, if caused by a muscle reaction).