Fracture
Causes
Bones are broken or ruptured due to external force.
Clinical Features
(1) The wound brings severe pain. The patient feels pain when it is touched.
(2) The broken limbs cannot more freely.
(3) The fractured parts are distorted, deformed or shortened.
(4) In moving, the patient may feel the friction caused by the broken bones.
(5) There is visible or invisible bleeding the injured may fall into a state of shock.
(6) The injured may feel that his bones have been broken and he fails to move normally.
(7) The wound swells or gets bruised.
General Treatment
(1) Unless there is immediate danger on the spot, avoid moving the injured to prevent his injury from worsening.
(2) Serious conditions such as asphyxia, bleeding, shock or unconsciousness should be dealt with before treating the fracture.
(3) For open fractures, place a piece of gauze or dressing over the wound before bandaging the wound.
(4) Support and immobilize the fractured bone with splints or sound parts of the body.
Fractures of the Spine
The spine may be injured when the body is hit, compressed or falls from height. Apart from back pain, the injured may feel numb, feeble or stiff in areas below his injured part. Sometimes, he cannot even move his fingers or toes and suffers a loss of sensation. In serious cases, the injured will fall into a state of shock or become unconscious.
Treatment
(1) If spinal fracture is suspected, extra caution must be exercised to avoid further damage.
(2) If the injured is supine, immobilize his head with sandbags.
(3) If the injured is unconscious, carefully lift his chin to keep his airway clear.
(4) Keep the injured warm.
(5) In case of cervical fracture, use a hard collar or an improvised collar made by wrapping towels, newspapers or triangular bandage to stabilize his neck.