First aid for fractures
Content:
- First aid basics
- First aid for a fractured shoulder and forearm
- First aid for fractures of the hip, lower leg and pelvic bones
- First aid for a broken leg
- First aid for fractured ribs
- First aid for a fractured jaw
- First aid for spinal fracture
In the event of a fracture, the main task is to ensure absolute immobilization of the injured limb or area. Any movement of a broken bone can provoke painful shock, loss of consciousness and damage to those tissues that are in the immediate vicinity.
First aid basics
Immobilization is achieved using medical splints or those made from materials at hand. As such, it is permissible to use something straight and strong, such as a stick, cane, or skis. Small boards or plywood are also suitable for this.
Splints should be applied not only to the outer, but also to the inner plane of the injured limb. It is important that they provide complete immobilization of the two joints that are adjacent to the fracture site.
If splints are applied to a bare surface, they should:
- overlay with cotton wool or other soft materials;
- secure using a bandage, towel, thin scarf or belt. They should not dangle, it is important to attach them very tightly and securely.
For those who have encountered an open fracture, first of all, using a tourniquet, it is necessary to stop the bleeding, after which a bandage is applied to the wound. It is obligatory not only to disinfect the wound with iodine, brilliant green and even alcohol, but also to apply a pressure bandage or tourniquet. This will make it possible to avoid blood loss, the consequences of which can be no less serious than as a result of an open fracture.
Then the victim needs to take an anesthetic drug (analgin, tempalgin) and ensure the immobility of a limb or part of the body. If, on a cursory examination, it is impossible to distinguish dislocations or bruises from bone fractures, then assistance should be provided in the same way as with a fracture.
It would be wrong to make independent attempts to correct the position of the bone that has undergone damage. Moreover, it is forbidden to set protruding bone fragments into the wound itself. Only professionals know how to do it correctly and with minimal harm to the victim.
First aid for a fractured shoulder and forearm
If the bones of the forearm are damaged, it means that the limb in the elbow joint should be bent at an angle of 90 ° C and pressed against the body with the palm of the hand. The splint must be taken so long that either of its ends wraps around the fingers of the hand, and the next one reaches the elbow joint. In the presented position, the splint must be secured with a bandage, and the limb must be suspended either on a homemade bandage.
If the humerus is fractured, the forearm will also need to be bent at 90 ° C at the elbow.
Two splints are applied to the injured shoulder bone:
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the first from the outer plane of the shoulder;
- the second - from the hollow of the armpit to the joint in the elbow.
After that, each of the tires is first individually bandaged to the shoulder, and then connected together. The forearm bent in this way should be suspended on a wide belt or headscarf. If there is no special splint or other similar means, then it is recommended to hang the limb bent at the elbow on a scarf or belt and only then bandage it to the body.
The person is transported strictly in a sitting position so that there is no impact on the limb. The same is true for a fracture of the clavicle and scapula. So, if the collarbone is broken, then lumps should be placed in the armpit cavity from the side that is injured. Next, the shoulder is tightly bandaged to the body. If we talk about the forearm, then it would be most correct to hang it on one kerchief, with the help of the limb they also tie to the body
Learn more: What to do if your humerus is fractured?
First aid for fractures of the hip, lower leg and pelvic bones
To apply a splint bandage in the event of a hip fracture, you need to have at least two large splints. The first of them is applied to the outer plane of the leg, while one of its ends should be located under the arm. The second is to protrude slightly beyond the foot area. It is important that the second splint is applied strictly along the inner plane of the leg so that one end of it reaches the crotch, while the other protrudes beyond the foot itself. In this position, the tires must be bandaged to the body.
When special splints or similar devices are not available, the injured limb must be bandaged to the uninjured leg. In the event of a leg fracture, first aid is provided in the same way as in the case of a thigh injury.
For fractures of the pelvic bones, it is characteristic that internal organs are damaged, and therefore bleeding and shock are likely. It is necessary to give the victim's pelvic bones such a position in which a minimum of painful sensations will form.
Most often these are:
- in a horizontal position on the back with a roller under the feet;
- hips should be slightly apart.
The roller can be made of a pillow, outerwear or warm clothing, as well as any other sufficiently soft material. The transportation of the victim is carried out only on a solid shield or board. It would be most correct to carry out various anti-shock measures before this, for example, relieving pain or stopping bleeding.
Learn more: What to do with a hip fracture?
First aid for a broken leg
One of the most common types of fracture is a leg injury. First aid is that the injured limb must be tied to the uninjured leg. Preferably in a supine position to minimize movement. In this case, the areas not only above, but also below the damage must be involved.
Or, if transportation of the victim in the supine position is impossible, a splint is applied that covers two or more joints of the limb. The main splint should be applied to the back of the leg. This will help minimize the flexion of the joints.
Learn more: What to do if your leg is broken?
First aid for fractured ribs
In the event of a rib or rib fracture, a tight bandage should be applied to the chest cage around it in a circle. It is important to remember that the main task in the event of a fracture is to immobilize the injured bones. The ribs are the hardest to do because they naturally move when you breathe. That is why applying a pressure bandage to the chest is necessary.
Due to this, the victim will breathe exclusively with the help of the abdominal muscles and will not experience serious painful sensations. If the required number of bandages is not available, then the chest is wrapped no less tightly using a sheet, towel, scarf or other large pieces of dense fabric.
It is important not to allow the victim to take a horizontal position, because sharp fragments of the ribs can press on the internal organs, causing them to rupture or bleed. It is also necessary to transport a person with broken ribs in a sitting position.
Learn more: What to do if your ribs are broken?
First aid for a fractured jaw
Damage to the jaws becomes possible, most often, as a result of direct injury, that is, a blow or fall. However, sometimes it can be a glancing blow. Given the serious force of the blow, which led to the fracture of the jaw, experts also suggest the formation of a concussion.
First aid for a jaw fracture is:
- covering your mouth;
- pain relief with analgesics;
- suspension of bleeding, if any;
- fixing the jaw with a bandage.
It is also recommended to fix the tongue so that it does not obstruct breathing. Temporary fixation of both jaws involves tying them tightly closed using a scarf, handkerchief or bandage. If the victim has lost consciousness, then it would be more correct to put him either on his side, or, even better, face down.
Learn more: What to do with a broken jaw?
First aid for spinal fracture
The most difficult and dangerous is a spinal fracture, it needs the most accurate first aid. Specialists identify five groups of fractures. These include: single and multiple, with or without spinal cord injury, with or without injury to the nerve endings and discs between the vertebrae. Also, fractures can be stable and unstable and, finally, damage to the body, processes or arcs of any of the vertebrae occurs.
Of course, it is necessary to correctly “read” the symptoms of an injury in order to distinguish it, for example, from a fractured rib. This will help provide correct and timely assistance.
Signs of a spinal fracture include:
- significant pain in the area of injury. In some cases, it can even lead to fainting. An exception should be considered those cases when a person is faced with severe chronic diseases. These include osteoporosis or oncology, in which the pain syndrome is slightly weaker;
- the formation of weakness or even paralysis in the area of those limbs that are located at the same level with the injury. This is observed when the nerve fibers are injured or in the case of compression. It is also possible with edema;
- in case of damage to the thoracic and cervical vertebrae, severe difficulty in respiratory functions is likely up to their complete stop;
- also, with a fracture of the vertebrae in the lumbar region, problems with urination may appear, while pain is usually given in the abdomen.
It is possible to identify two main points in the provision of first aid. They must be performed as quickly as possible after a person has suffered a spinal injury. The first step is to relieve pain. To do this, use any analgesic or stronger drugs that are available. This should be done in maximum dosages. After that, you can start fixing the injured part of the body, which is the second point.
It is almost impossible to reliably fix any particular area of the spine without being a specialist. In addition, there are simply no aids for this under standard conditions. Therefore, it will be correct to immobilize the entire spinal column - this is not as difficult to do as it seems.
For this, it will be enough to apply any solid foundation that is sufficiently extended, that is, coincides with human growth. It is more than successfully possible to replace specialized stretchers with several boards suitable for the description and such material with which it will be possible to fix the victim.
It is highly recommended to fix the cervical spine of a person, and this is relevant regardless of which of the sections was injured. Even in the case when the cervical compartment has not received any damage, head movements can lead to completely unnecessary movements of the spinal column at that time.
It is possible to secure the neck using a specific collar, which must be aligned with the height and length of the neck. It is possible to make a similar collar yourself using cardboard. Let's say, cutting it to size and covering it with either a soft cloth or cotton wool. Then they are wrapped with a bandage on top. It is permissible to use other materials, but the main thing is that the victim's head is securely fixed.
Learn more: What to do with a spinal fracture?
In the framework of first aid in the event of a spinal fracture, it will be unacceptable to seat a person. Any attempts to put him on his feet or to straighten not only the vertebrae, but also the cervical regions are also prohibited. Pulling the upper and lower limbs should be done only if absolutely necessary, remembering that the fragmented vertebrae can move even more.
It would be undesirable to give medications to someone who, due to a fracture, has a violation of swallowing function or there is a loss of consciousness. And, of course, you cannot transport a patient with a similar injury in a sitting position.
Thus, the provision of competent and timely first aid in case of a fracture will be the key to preserving 100% health and quickly recovering the injured limb or area.
Author of the article: Kaplan Alexander Sergeevich | Orthopedist
Education: diploma in the specialty "General Medicine" received in 2009 at the Medical Academy. I. M. Sechenov. In 2012 completed postgraduate studies in Traumatology and Orthopedics at the City Clinical Hospital named after Botkin at the Department of Traumatology, Orthopedics and Disaster Surgery.
