Anatomy
What are the three components of the axial skeleton?
Skull, spine and ribcage
What are 3 types of injuries we might see?
Fractures, dislocations, contusions, strains or sprains
Fractures are defined as a ____ in the ______ of the bone.
Break AND continuity
What is the acronym used to treat sprains?
RICES: rest, ice, compression, elevation, splinting
What are the three directions we push into the pelvis to assess for trauma?
Down, inwards and outwards (one side at a time)
What are the two types of bone marrow and which is predominant in adults?
Red and yellow, yellow matter
STRAINS affect _____ whereas SPRAINS affect ____.
Tendons AND ligaments.
Name 3 types of fractures.
Open, impacted, avulsion, greenstick, fissured, comminuted, transverse. oblique, spiral or compound
What should ALWAYS be checked before and after splinting?
CSM (circulation, sensation and motor function) OR PMS (pulse, motor function, sensation)
Skeletal muscle is under ____control.
Somatic control
Tendons attach ____ to ____ whereas ligaments attach _____ to _____.
Muscle to bone AND bone to bone
What are 3 of the 7 P's of limb injury?
Pain
Pallor
Pressure
Parasthesia/Pins and needles
Paralysis
Pulselessness
Point tenderness
Define a greenstick fracture.
An incomplete break that occurs on the convex surface of the bone.
What are some principles of splinting (name 3)?
Make sure the injured area can be seen.
Assess and record distal pulse, motor function, and sensation (PMS – Same as CSM).
Cover all wounds with a sterile dressing.
Do not move the patient before splinting.
For fractures, immobilize bone ends and joints
For dislocations, splint the entire length of bone.
Pad the splint well.
Support the injury and minimize movement.
Splint knees straight, elbows at a right angle.
Discontinue traction if the patient reports pain.
Splint firmly.
Avoid covering fingers and toes.
Apply cold packs and elevate the limb.
In the case of life-threatening injuries, splinting should not delay transport.
HINT: as relating to fractures (don't say AAOx4)
Motor and sensory functions
From an anatomy perspective, why might bloody urine accompany pelvic trauma?
Because of the location of the bladder.
Fractures of the pelvis are often associated with...
Life-threatening blood loss
Define a comminuted fracture.
A complete fragmented portion of the bone.
What are 4 categories of splints?
Rigid, semirigid, soft and traction
What is false motion?
Motion in the body at a place where there is no joint/should not be movement
When a bone is snapped in half like a branch, what portion of the bone breaks?
The diaphysis (shaft).
What is Crush Syndrome and how long does it take to onset?
It is the result of progressive, compressive force that kills muscle cells, causing the release of toxins when muscles die (4-6 hours) that lead to kidney failure.
Fractures will often lead to _____, which we can feel.
Crepitus, the grating felling of bone on bone
When treating a fracture, what is our #1 concern with our patient?
HINT: is it the fracture?
Life-threatening injuries ALWAYS come first!
The main function of a splint is what?
Prevent the motion of bony fragments