Premergency First Aid, CPR and AED Manual

8 Muscle, Bone and Joint Injuries

Vital vocabulary Battle’s sign – Bruising behind the ear, which may be a sign of a head injury (basal skull fracture). bones – Form the skeleton inside the body that provides us with our human form, protects the vital organs of the body. capsule – Fibrous tissue that holds joints together. cartilage – A tissue that cushions and protects the joint. cervical spine – The patient’s neck; from skull to upper back. compression Injury – When pressure is put on the brain. This can be from a skull fracture, where the broken bones are pressing on the brain, or it can be due to fluid buildup inside the skull.

concussion injury – Swelling of the brain in the absence of a skull fracture resulting from blows to the head and neck. Results in defined symptoms. cranium – The patient’s skull. dislocation – A disruption of a joint where the bone ends are no longer in contact. ecchymosis (raccoon eyes) – Bruising around the eyes, which may be a sign of head injury. elevation – Raise the injury slightly higher than the heart to decrease swelling. flail chest – When three or more adjacent ribs are broken at two or more points, causing that section to lose continuity with the rigid chest wall.

343

www.preohs.com