Sprains, Strains, Dislocations, and Fractures By: Devin Peters

Structures involved Sprains – A sprain is a stretch or torn ligament. Ligaments are tissue that connect bones at a joint. Strains – A strain is a stretched or torn muscle or tendon. Tendons are tissue that connect muscle to bone. Dislocation – A dislocation occurs when a bone slips out of a joint. Fracture – A fracture is a broken bone. It can range from a thin crack to a complete break.

Mechanism/Causes of the disorder Sprains Ankle- Walking or exercising on an uneven surface. Knee- Pivoting during an athletic activity. Wrist- Landing on an outstretched hand during a fall. Thumb- Skiing injury or over extension when playing racquet sports, such as tennis. Strains Not warming up properly before physical activity. Poor flexibility. Poor conditioning. Over extension and fatigue.

Mechanism/Causes of Disorder Dislocations Dislocations typically result when a joint experiences an unexpected or unbalanced impact. Fractures Injury from a car accident or athletic event. Intentional injury, if another person strikes or pushes you. Child abuse. Falls from heights or falls on ice or other unsafe surfaces.

Short Term Effects Sprains Pain, swelling, bruising, not being able to move or use the joint. Strains Swelling, bruising or redness, or open cuts due to the injury, pain at rest, pain when the specific muscle or the joint is used, weakness of the muscle or tendons, inability to use the muscle at all.

Short Term Effects Dislocation Numbness or tingling at the joint or beyond it, intensely painful, especially if you to put weight on it, limited in movement, swollen or bruised, visibly out of place. Fracture Swelling or bruising over a bone Deformity of an arm or leg, pain in the injured area that gets worse when the area is moved or pressure is applied, loss of function in the injured area.

Long Term Effects Fracture Sprains Can have nagging consequences that can be seen years after the initial injury. Strains After injury, the muscle is weaker and at risk for further injury. Dislocation The incidence of dislocation is highest in the first year after arthroplasty and then continues at a relatively constant rate for the life of the arthroplasty. Fracture In most cases, your cast will be removed after a few weeks, but you must treat your limb with care for at least the next month or so.

Treatment Sprains Strains Dislocation Fractures Use a sling for an arm injury or crutches for a leg or foot injury. Splint an injured finger or toe by taping it to an adjacent finger or toe. Strains Apply an elastic bandage, sling, or splint. Rest the muscle for at least a day. Dislocation Manipulation or repositioning, immobilization, medication, rehabilitation. Fractures Surgery is sometimes required to treat a fracture. The type of treatment required depends on the severity of the break,

Prevention Sprain/Strain Regular stretching and strengthening exercises for your sport, fitness or work activity. Dislocation Wear the suggested protective gear when you play contact sports. Once you've dislocated a joint, do strength and stability exercises as recommended by your doctor to improve support of your joint. Fractures Exercise can reduce your risk of fracturing

General information Sprains/Strians A sprain is a stretch and/or tear of a ligament. A strain is an injury to either a muscle or a tendon. Dislocation You can dislocate almost any joint in your body, including your knee, hip, ankle, or shoulder. Fractures Fractures are common; the average person has two during a lifetime. They occur when the physical force exerted on the bone is stronger than the bone itself.