Premergency First Aid, CPR and AED Manual

8 Muscle, Bone and Joint Injuries

Musculoskeletal Injuries A fracture , or broken bone, is any break in the continuity of a bone. It can occur anywhere on the surface and in any pattern. A dislocation is a disruption of a joint where the bone ends are no longer in contact. Supporting ligaments are often torn, allowing for complete separation of the joint. A subluxation is a partial dislocation where the disruption of the joint is not complete. A sprain is an injury to the ligaments, tendons, and capsule of the joint. After the injury, the joint usually returns to its original position so visual signs of the injury may be minimal. Sprains can be mild to severe depending on the amount of damage to the capsule and ligaments. Knees, ankles, and shoulders are the most vulnerable joints to sprains.

A strain is a muscle pull, a tearing, or a stretching of the muscle tissue that causes pain, swelling, and bruising. Typically no injury to ligaments or tendons occur. Usually significant force is required to fracture bones and cause dislocations. This force can impact the body in any of the following ways: • Direct blows • Indirect force • Twisting force • High energy force Direct blows fracture the bone at the point of impact. An example would be the kneecap, the patella, and the striking the dashboard during a car accident. Indirect force causes a fracture or dislocation away from the impact point, such as when a person falls on an outstretched hand. Sprained Ankle

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