Chapter 11: Musculoskeletal Injuries

Fracture

A break or disruption in bone tissue.

Bone:

A dense, hard tissue that forms the skeleton.

Splint:

A device used to immobilize body parts.

Tendon:

A fibrous band that attaches muscle to bone.

Ligament:

A fibrous band that holds bones together at a joint.

What would indicate that Kelly's injury is severe?

A snapping sound at the time of the injury. The injured area is very painful to touch or move. There is significant bruising and swelling. There is significant deformity. She is unable to use the affected part normally. There are bone fragments sticking out of a wound. She feels bones grating. The injured area is cold, numb and tingly. The cause of the injury suggests that it may be severe.

Joint:

A structure where two or more bones are joined.

Muscle:

A tissue that contracts and relaxes to create movement.

Which should you do when caring for an injured joint?

Apply cold to the injured area

Which step would you take before and after splinting an injury?

Check for feeling, warmth, and color

You find a person lying quietly on the ground. Their right leg is twisted at an unusual angle and you can see protruding bones and blood. The scene is safe and there is no severe, life- threatening bleeding. Which do you do first?

Check for life-threatening conditions

Signs of a serious musculoskeletal injury include—

Deformity or bone fragments protruding from a wound

What can you do to make Kelly more comfortable?

Help Kelly rest in the most comfortable position; immobilize her foot, using the ground to support it; apply cold to the injured area for periods of 20 minutes on, 20 minutes off (if 20 minutes of cold cannot be tolerated, apply a cold pack for periods of 10 minutes); and elevate the injury above the level of the heart, only if it does not cause more pain.

What types of musculoskeletal injuries could Kelly have as a result of her fall?

Kelly likely sprained or strained her ankle or foot. A fracture is also a possibility.

List four principles of splinting.

Splint only if you have to move the injured person and you can do so without causing more pain and discomfort to the person. Splint an injury in the position in which you find it; do not move, straighten or bend angulated bones or joints. Splint the injured area and the joints or bones above and below the injury site. Check for proper circulation (feeling, warmth and color) before and after splinting. If circulation has changed with splinting, loosen the splint slightly and reassess circulation.

Dislocation:

The displacement of a bone from its normal position at a joint.

Strain:

The excessive stretching and tearing of muscles or tendons; a pulled or torn muscle.

Osteoporosis

The gradual, progressive weakening of bone

Sprain:

The partial or complete tearing or stretching of ligaments and other soft tissue structures at a joint.

List the reasons to call 9-1-1 or the designated emergency number for a musculoskeletal injury.

There is obvious deformity; there is moderate or severe swelling and discoloration; bones sound or feel like they are rubbing together; a snap or pop was heard or felt at the time of the injury; there is a fracture with an open wound at, or bone piercing through, the injury site; the injured person cannot move or use the affected part normally; the injured area is cold and numb; the injury involves the head, neck or spine; the injured person has trouble breathing; the cause of the injury suggests that the injury may be severe; it is not possible to safely or comfortably move the person to a vehicle for transport to a hospital.

Why should you immobilize a musculoskeletal injury?

To prevent further injury to soft tissues

Immobolize

To use a splint or other method to keep an injured body part from moving.

paralysis

a loss of muscle movement

Dense, hard tissue that forms the skeleton

bone

Displacement of a bone from its normal position at a joint

dislocation

dislocation

displacement or separation of a bone from its normal position at a joint

Broken bone

fracture

Structure formed where two or more bones meet

joint

closed fracture

leaves the skin unbroken and are more common than

Fibrous bands holding bones together at joints

ligaments

Tissue that contracts and relaxes to create movement

muscle

skeletal muscles

muscles that attach to bone

skeletal muscles

muscles that attach to the bones

open fractures

occur when the skin over the fracture site is broken. An example of an open fracture is when a limb is severely angulated or bent, causing bone ends to tear the skin and surrounding soft tissues

Muscles that attach to bones

skeletal muscles

Muscles:

soft tissues that are able to contract and relax. The body has over 600 muscles, most of which are skeletal muscles

bones that form a canal called the spinal column protect the ______

spinal cord

Device used to keep body parts from moving

splint

Injury that stretches and tears ligaments and other soft tissues at joints

sprain

Injury that stretches and tears muscles and tendons

strain

Fibrous band attaching muscle to bone

tendon