Fractures, Sprain and Strains Lawrence L. Lambert Off Shore Paramedic Shell Oil Main Pass 252

What causes fractures, sprains and strains? Falls Crushing injuries Extension and flexion out of normal range of motion Twisting injuries involved as in tripping

What causes fractures, sprains and strains? Auto Accidents Animal Causes – Bites, trampling and falls Sports Injuries Sky diving accidents

Mechanism of Injury Sir Isaac Newton’s First law of Physics – "A body continues to maintain its state of rest or of uniform motion unless acted upon by an external unbalanced force." This law is also called the law of inertia.

Kinetic Energy Energy of life can neither be made or destroyed ----It only changes form and is transferred. The kinetic energy of an object is the extra energy which it possesses due to its motion. Having gained this energy during its acceleration, the body maintains this kinetic energy unless its speed changes.

Skeletal System “Dem’Bones” Bones are rigid organs that form the skeletal system. They function to move, support, and protect the various organs of the body, produce blood cells both red and white. The also store minerals. Because bones come in a variety of shapes and have a complex internal and external structure, they are lightweight, yet strong and hard, in addition to fulfilling their many other functions.

Ligaments In its most common use, a ligament is a short band of tough fibrous dense regular connective tissue composed mainly of long, stringy collagen fibers. Ligaments connect bones to other bones to form a joint.

Tendons A tendon is a band of tissue that connects a muscle to a bone.

Types of MOI on the human body that can cause fractures Falls Height Surface landed on Part of the body absorbing the most injury Motor Vehicle Accidents Speed Type – Head On, Vs. fixed object, Side or rear impact

Types of MOI on the human body that can cause fractures Penetrating injuries Gunshot Wounds Stabbing Wounds Impaled Objects Non Penetrating Injuries Blunt force trauma Crushing injuries

Characteristics of These Type of Injury Fractures – a break in the continuity of the bone. Open Closed Sprains – result from the stretching or tearing of ligaments. Ligaments are tough bands of fibrous tissue that connect one bone to another. Common locations for sprains are your ankles and knees.

Characteristics of These Type of Injury Strains: A strain is a stretching or tearing of muscle or tendon. People commonly call strains "pulled" muscles. Hamstring and back injuries are among the most common strains

Characteristics of These Type of Injury Sprains: A sprain (from the French word espraindre - to wring) is an injury which occurs to ligaments caused by being over stretched beyond their normal capacity and possibly torn.

Signs and Symptom's of fractures, strains and sprains Pain at the site Swelling Discoloration (bruising) Deformity (angulation, false joint) Open wound consistent with the injury

First aid for Fractures, Sprains and Strains As always in any emergency asses, treat and maintain the A, B and C. Make sure the airway is open and patent. Open airway and suction if necessary. Make sure the patient is breathing. If not breathing give ventilatory/breathing support. Every 5 seconds for an adult. Make sure you have a pulse check the distal pulse of the area involved. You can check a pulse anywhere an artery crosses a bone. Look for any external bleeding – apply pressure do not elevate if fracture is involved.

First aid for Fractures, Sprains and Strains Immobilize the fracture both above and below the site of the injury. Splint using commercial splinting equipment, padded boards and self splinting. Ice to the area. Seek professional medical care as necessary. The only way to rule out a fracture is with an X-ray of the affected area.

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