A broken (or partially fractured) bone requires emergency care, no matter what part might be broken or how big or small the injury may seem. It is a common injury along kids and also practically impossible to prevent.
A sprain occurs when the ligaments, which hold bones together, are overstretched or partially torn. Simply overstretching any part of the musculature is called a strain. Sprains and strains generally cause swelling and pain, and there may be bruises around the injured area. Most sprains, after proper medical evaluation, can be treated at home.
Symptoms
Sometimes it can be difficult to tell whether a bone is broken. If the break is small or just a crack (fracture) you may not feel much pain or realise that you have a broken bone. If you have broken a bone, you may experience the following:
- Swelling, bruising or tenderness.
- Pain.
- Loss of function in the injured area.
- Deformity or the broken bone may even protrude from the skin.
- The injured part is difficult to move or hurts when being moved, touched or bears weight.
- You heard or felt a snap or a grinding noise during the injury.
- As result of shock you may feel faint, dizzy or sick.
Treatment
For a suspected broken bone
1. Phone for emergency medical help.
2. Place cold packs or a bag of ice wrapped in cloth on the injured area.
3. If you must move, apply splints around the injured limb to prevent further injury. Leave the limb in the position you find it. The splints should be applied in that position. Splints can be made by boards, brooms, a stack of newspapers, cardboard or anything firm and can be padded with pillows, shirts, towels or anything soft. You can wrap it with an elastic bandage or tape. Splints must be long enough to extend beyond the joints above and below the fracture.
4. If the injury involves your neck or back, do not move unless you are in imminent danger as it could cause serious nerve damage. If you must move, the neck and back must be completely immobilized first.
5. If you have an open break and there is severe bleeding, apply pressure on the bleeding area with a gauze pad, a clean piece of clothing or similar material. Don't wash the wound or try to push back any part of the bone that may be sticking out.
6. Keep lying down until medical help arrives.
7. Treat for shock. If the person feels faint or breathlessness, lay the person down with the head slightly lower than the rest of the body and elevate the legs.
For a suspected sprain or strain
If you are insecure whether it is a sprain or a break, go to the hospital to make a X-ray.
1. Again, don't if move unless you are in imminent danger when it involves your neck or back and call for emergency medical help.
2. “RICE”:
Rest the injured part of the body.
Apply ice packs or cold compresses for up to 15 minutes at a time every few hours for the first 2 days to prevent swelling.
Wear an elastic compression bandage for at least 2 days, it will also reduce swelling.
Keep the injured part elevated as much as possible to lower the swelling.
Don't move the person and call for emergency help immediately, if...
- you suspect a serious injury to the neck, head or back.
- gentle pressure or movement causes pain.
- there is heavy bleeding or the limb appears deformed.
- the extremity of the injured part (like the toes of a leg) is is numb or bluish at the tip.
- the person is unresponsive and not breathing or moving. Begin CPR if there's no breathing or heartbeat.