Bone tissue is second only to tooth enamel in strength, which is considered the hardest tissue in the human body. Each of us has more than 200 bones and each of them has its own margin of strength, but under a certain force, any of them can break.

A bone fracture is a complete or partial disruption of its integrity that occurs when a load exceeds the strength of the injured bone. This pathology most often occurs as a result, but in some cases the cause of the fracture is diseases that lead to disruption of the structure bone tissue.

Causes of fractures

Of course, the main reason for the violation of bone anatomy is injury received from a fall, impact, at work, in an accident, as a result of natural disasters etc. Unfortunately, thanks to technological progress, the number of injuries leading to bone fractures has increased significantly.

Types of fractures

In modern traumatology, many different classifications of fractures are used.

Because of

Depending on the cause, fractures are divided into traumatic and pathological.

Some diseases reduce the strength of bones and can cause pathological fractures that occur from minor injuries, weak blows, and sometimes even just from straining muscles or performing normal movements. This pathology can occur with cancer of the bones; in children, the cause may be a severe congenital disease osteopetrosis (deadly marble).

One of the risk factors for pathological fractures is age. In older people, bone density decreases and becomes more fragile, so the risk of fractures increases.

According to the direction and shape of the fracture

This classification is based on the orientation of the fracture line relative to the axis of the bone; fractures can be transverse, longitudinal, oblique and helical.

If there is no clear fracture line, and the x-ray shows many small fragments, then it is called comminuted. A comminuted vertebral fracture is called a compression fracture because it often occurs as a result of sudden compression of the vertebrae by each other.

Wedge-shaped fractures are also distinguished, when one bone is pressed into another, deforming it in the form of a wedge, and impacted – one bone fragment is driven into another.

By degree of damage

• Complete (with and without displacement of fragments);
• incomplete (bone fracture or crack).

Depending on the damage to the skin

• Closed (no skin damage or open wound);
• open ( soft fabrics damaged and the wound is open).

Diagnosis of bone fracture

This diagnosis is often made on the basis of clinical signs, but is always confirmed radiographically. An X-ray is required even in cases where the fracture is open and bone fragments are visible. Of course, in this case the diagnosis is beyond doubt, but this study is necessary in order to accurately determine the position of the damaged bones and the presence of fragments.

Relative signs of fracture

• Sharp pain at the site of injury, intensifying with movement, load and any manipulation; when small bones are damaged, pain may be the only symptom in the victim.
• Functional dysfunction if we're talking about about a limb (limited mobility, the victim holds it in a forced position).
• Swelling at the site of injury appears some time after the injury.
• Hematoma also does not form immediately, but with massive bleeding it quickly increases in volume.

Absolute signs of a fracture

• Changing the shape of a limb;
• at the expected site of the fracture, pathological mobility of bone fragments and a characteristic crunch are determined;
• visualization of bone fragments in the wound.

First aid for broken limbs

These types of fractures are the most common. The first thing to do is to assess the condition of the victim and call ambulance, if it is not possible to transport it to a medical facility yourself. Often patients with fractures of the bones of the upper extremities get to the emergency room on their own, which cannot be said about victims with fractures of the leg bones.

Usually, even the simplest car first aid kit contains a set of tools that is enough to provide first aid to a person in case of such damage. It contains a tourniquet to stop bleeding, bandages and adhesive plasters to fix the limb and splint, a sterile dressing bag and napkins for applying a bandage to the wound.

Stop bleeding

If the victim is bleeding, then first of all it is necessary. If the blood flows in a pulsating stream of scarlet color, it means that the bleeding is arterial, and a tourniquet must be applied above the site of injury. If dark blood flows slowly from the wound, the bleeding is caused by damage to the veins. In this case, the victim needs to apply a pressure bandage, not a tourniquet.

Immobilization

The injured limb must be immobilized. Under no circumstances should you attempt to straighten, adjust, or perform any other manipulation of a limb if there is a suspicion of a bone fracture. Before applying the splint, there is no need to remove the person’s clothing; it is applied directly to the sleeve or pant leg. For immobilization, you can use any hard, flat object (for example, a stick, board or ski). Any splint must be applied so that the limb is firmly fixed; for this it is necessary to immobilize the joints above and below the site of injury.

If there is a suspicion of damage to the bones of the leg, then the diseased limb can be tightly bandaged to the healthy one, which in this case will act as a splint. If the bones of the leg or thigh are damaged, two splints are applied - on the outer and inner surface of the leg. The outer one should reach the armpit and exclude movement in the hip, knee and ankle joints. Internal - from the perineum to the ankle joint, also immobilizing knee-joint and ankle.

When the upper limb is fractured, the victim’s arm is bent at the elbow joint, a splint is also applied on both sides, and the limb is suspended on a scarf in a bent state (flexion angle 90 degrees). IN armpit you can put a cushion.

All manipulations should be performed with extreme caution so as not to aggravate the victim’s condition. Rough manipulations can cause complications in the future, including traumatic shock.

Anesthesia

If you have a painkiller at hand, you need to give it to the victim. You can apply ice, a bottle with cold water or a special cooling pack. If transportation to a medical facility is not possible and a wait for special transport is required, the patient must be warmed by covering with a blanket, clothing, etc. If there is no suspicion of internal organ injuries, the victim can be given a warm drink.

Treatment of wounds

If the victim has an open wound, then it must be treated with a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution or another antiseptic (not alcohol) solution. The skin around the wound can be lubricated with alcohol or a solution, which should not get into the wound itself. A loose sterile bandage should be applied to the site of visible damage to the skin.

First aid for spinal injury

If a spinal fracture is suspected, the patient should not be turned over. It can only be transported on a stretcher or improvised means with a hard surface.

Characteristic features spinal injuries are sharp pain at the site of a violation of the integrity of the vertebrae, difficulty or cessation of breathing, numbness, weakness or paralysis of the limbs, involuntary urination and defecation. You can transport and generally move such a victim yourself only in a hopeless situation, when there is no way to wait for qualified help.

You should not try to sit him down or put him on his feet, or turn him over on his side or stomach. It is necessary to lay the victim on a hard, flat surface, the length of which must exceed his height (a door, a piece of plywood, a shield, etc.). You cannot lift a person by the shoulders and legs; the transport surface must be carefully slipped under his back.

When the victim is laid on such an improvised stretcher, it is necessary to firmly fix him on them using any available means (bandages, belts, ropes, etc.). It is advisable to place a small thick cushion under your neck. If there is a suspicion of damage to the cervical vertebrae, then such a roller must be completely wrapped around the neck.

The bone skeleton is the basis for performing motor functions. It easily copes with the permissible load, but with serious injuries its strength is significantly reduced. In such cases, a fracture of one or more bone elements occurs. What are the differences between injuries, and how to provide first aid for fractures?

They adhere to a detailed classification, with the help of which the traumatologist chooses further treatment.

For structural violations:

• across;
• oblique line;
• longitudinal;
• with a chip;
• spiral or screw;
• hammered in;
• in two or more places.

Due to the occurrence:

• traumatic (in case of a sharp blow, fall, accident);
• pathological (chronic impairment of calcium synthesis and absorption, bone fragility, osteoporosis).

• open (the bone passes through the tissue to the outside, accompanied by hemorrhage into the muscles, large vessels are often affected);
• closed (bone injury occurs without affecting the nervous, vascular and muscle tissues).

• displacement (the bone moves to the side after a reflex muscle contraction);
• there is no displacement (there is a fracture in the bone, but it is located along the axis).

By degree of damage:

• complete (bone separation occurs in two or more places);
• incomplete (a chip or crack is observed in the bone);
• green branch (bone broken from the inside or side, the outer layer is not damaged).

Signs

You can determine the damage to the bone yourself. In case of injury, the symptoms are felt acutely and cause significant discomfort. Early help, even with a severe fracture, can prevent many complications.

Unconditional

1. Limbs and other parts of the body move easily in areas where there are no joints.
2. The fracture site takes on an unnatural appearance due to ruptures of muscles, bone elements and ligaments.
3. Whenever you try to move, you hear a characteristic crunch or crepitation. It can be heard well through a phonendoscope.
4. At open views fracture, bone elements are visible on the surface of the skin, there is a high probability of bleeding from the artery.

Relative

1. Loss of consciousness in a patient due to traumatic shock.
2. Severe pain attacks from any load, in a calm state.
3. Extensive or minor swelling (also occurs with bone bruises, sprains, dislocations).
4. Hematomas. Appear from blood clotting under top layer skin.

First aid for closed fractures

Closed damage carries fewer complications than the open type. But in this case, help must be provided on time.

First aid for open fractures

Open injuries are dangerous due to rupture of blood vessels. There is a high probability of tissue death and large blood loss before paramedics arrive and transport the victim to the hospital.

After processing and securing the limb, a tight tourniquet or hemostatic bandage is applied. It is done with the help of things, rope, bandage or belt.

Before applying a tight bandage, determine the nature of the bleeding. Venous blood has an intense red color and oozes evenly from the wound. If the arteries are damaged, bright scarlet pulsating blood is observed. The tourniquet is fixed under the wound if a vein rupture occurs. After stopping the blood loss before the arrival of paramedics, the tourniquet is periodically loosened so that the tissue does not die.

Jaw fracture

For first aid for jaw fractures, it is advisable to use a sling bandage. The device is a reliable fixator of the mandibular joint and prevents compression and destruction of the facial bones.

Excess blood from damage to the maxillary artery is first soaked out using tampons. The patient's mouth is cleaned if blood clots and fluid remain there. The tongue is wrapped in a bandage when it sinks. For closed jaw injuries, the use of a cold compress is permitted.

For closed jaw injuries, the use of a cold compress is allowed

Great care is taken when removing falling teeth. Do not touch living bone fragments that are connected to the periosteum. To relieve pain from shock, it is permissible to inject Baralgin. The patient is urgently taken to the traumatology department; a jaw fracture threatens health and life.

Fractured ribs

Pre-medical first aid for bone fractures in the chest area is provided to prevent complications - perforation of the aorta, compression and displacement of the heart or lungs. It is most difficult to recognize a closed injury in this area. What symptoms should you pay attention to:

1. Inhalation is difficult, the victim is anxious.
2. The respiratory movements of the chest become asymmetrical.
3. Soft tissues swell and bruises appear on the body.
4. If the lung tissue is damaged, the patient coughs up blood.
5. Severe pain and blood loss leads to loss of consciousness, the skin turns pale, and the heart rate increases.

To the first medical care for rib fractures, ligation of the sternum is performed while exhaling. This will reduce the likelihood of bone displacement during breathing movements. For better fixation, one of the victim’s limbs is pressed to the body and securely fastened.

The patient is transported in a sitting or reclining position. If the injury is one-sided, it is permissible to turn the body to the affected side.

Spinal fracture

Damage to bones in this area is the most dangerous to human health. Disorders of the vertebrae often lead to disability or complete immobility. A comminuted fracture increases the risk of injury spinal cord with further neurological abnormalities. The patient must receive emergency assistance for a spinal fracture, otherwise his condition will end in death.

It is prohibited to transport the patient until the resuscitation vehicle arrives. Do not allow the head to turn, fixing the neck with thick cardboard and rope. The victim is tied to a hard surface of a wide board, door or plywood. The limbs are tightly tied to each other, and a cushion of clothing is placed under the lower back. It is necessary to immediately inject the person with an anesthetic. If cardiac arrest is recorded, apply.

To avoid damaging other bones and aggravating the spinal fracture, chest compressions are performed through a blanket.

What to do for fractures of the upper limbs?

Hand injuries in traumatology practice are the most common type of fractures. If bone damage is possible, the patient is given an anesthetic and a thorough examination is carried out. With a closed fracture of the upper limb, immobilization is important. If you do not immobilize it in time, the bones will quickly shift and damage the soft tissue. A splint is placed on the arm and tightened until it is completely immobile. It is forbidden to pull the hand or set the bone yourself. In case of open damage, the tourniquet is tightened a few centimeters higher from the damaged area. Open wound washed with hydrogen peroxide, and the edges are treated with an antiseptic.

The most fragile place in the hand is the hand, and it breaks quite often in older people and children. Trauma may damage the metacarpal bones, wrist, phalanges, or palm. The rings are removed from the victim, since with swelling they can provoke tissue necrosis. Be sure to apply an ice pack or other cold object. A tight bandage is applied when there is bleeding so that the arm remains in a bent position. Fixation with a bandage is carried out over the shoulder. First aid for a broken hand should be done quickly. Complications can lead to complete immobilization of the hand.

Fractures of the lower extremities

The rules for providing first aid for leg fractures are identical for disorders of the arm bones. The patient is calmed, pain relieved and the leg is firmly fixed. If there are no hard objects nearby, one limb is tied to the other so that the patient does not have the opportunity to move. Transport the victim with minimal load and with complete immobilization of the leg to avoid rupture of blood vessels. Until the hemorrhage is eliminated, a splint is not applied.

What to do if you have a broken collarbone?

A fall or other injury can cause a clavicular fracture, and first aid in this case is complete immobilization of the body. The limb is pressed tightly to the damaged side and tied, and a fabric roll is placed under the arm. If the patient is not taken to the hospital quickly, the dressing is adjusted every 30-40 minutes to make it tighter.

Bandaging for a clavicular fracture

Eight. Fast and effective method dressing the patient so that the bones do not move. A bandage is bandaged at chest level, and thick pads are applied near the shoulder blades. The bandage is passed along the back, on the chest, covers part of the back and is passed through the recess under the armpit. Using a tight bandage, the shoulders are placed in a natural position.

What kind of help should a child receive?

Children's bones do not yet have the same strength as those of an adult. They are quite flexible and often break like a green branch - on one side the tissue remains intact. This greatly simplifies the fusion of bones and muscles.

The child may be very frightened by pain and injury, so he must be immediately calmed down and given pain relief. In case of any type of fracture, the injured child is immediately taken to the hospital, having first applied a tight fixing bandage.

To avoid fractures, it is necessary to maintain healthy image life. Alcohol and cigarettes contribute to the rapid destruction of bone tissue. Lack of basic physical exercise leads to stagnant processes in the musculoskeletal system. To reduce the load on bones, it is recommended to maintain optimal body weight. Nutrition must be balanced and contain the necessary set of elements.

According to statistics, almost every person has encountered an injury such as a fracture at least once in their life. In the United States of America, about seven million cases are registered daily, in Russia - all nine million. This pathology most often forces people to turn to traumatologists, and during the holidays and ice conditions there are even more patients: drunkenness and falls provoke dislocations and broken limbs. First aid in this case can not only minimize the likelihood of complications, but also save a person’s life.

The most common causes of fractures

The cause of a fracture of the limbs, as a rule, is trauma, that is, an external impact that exceeds the strength of the area of ​​​​the bone to which it is directed. Some fractures occur as a consequence of some disease: the integrity of the bone can be disrupted without external influence, but only due to pathological weakness of the bone tissue. Pathological fractures can be a consequence of bone tuberculosis, severe osteoporosis, cancer (spread of metastases or direct localization malignant neoplasm in bone tissue) or multiple myeloma.

Brief statistics on bone damage

More often, fractures occur in boys and young men. Representatives of the stronger sex work in industries where there is a risk of injury, and are more likely to use alcoholic drinks, which is associated with drunken fights and drunk driving, they love extreme sports. Most often, men experience dislocations and fractures of the limbs (first aid should be provided immediately), ribs and bones of the facial part of the skull.

In women, due to osteoporosis that develops with age, the risk of injury increases by the age of 45-50. Besides menopause, dangerous period is pregnancy and breastfeeding, when the body experiences calcium deficiency, the center of gravity shifts, and visibility is limited to a large belly.

Similar injuries are also common in childhood. Fractures account for up to 20% of all injuries in children, who are by nature active, active and inquisitive.

Classification of limb fractures

First aid for broken limbs largely depends on the nature of the injury. There are several criteria for dividing fractures into groups:

1. Reason for occurrence: traumatic (caused by external influence) or pathological (internal factors contributed to the fracture: complications of various diseases, deficiency of certain vitamins and minerals)
2. By severity: fractures are classified as displaced, when bone fragments can injure surrounding tissues, or without displacement, if bone fragments are held by muscles and tendons. There are also incomplete fractures, which are called chips or cracks.
3. In terms of the integrity of the skin: an open fracture is characterized by a superficial wound, while in a closed fracture the bone fragments do not communicate with the external environment.
4. According to the shape and direction of damage: helical, straight, longitudinal, oblique and transverse fractures.

First procedure

If fractures of the limb bones occur, first aid can halve the likelihood of complications, and in some cases even save lives. The main thing is that all activities are carried out correctly and in a timely manner.

First aid for limb fractures includes a number of measures aimed at determining the type of fracture (the actions of the person providing first aid vary depending on what they are dealing with - an open or closed fracture, whether there is pain shock accompanying the injury, etc. complications) and directly providing the necessary assistance. Afterwards, you should take the victim to the hospital or ensure that doctors arrive at the scene of the incident.

How is first aid provided for broken limbs? IN general view assistance is provided as follows:

1. It is necessary to give an objective assessment of the victim’s condition, make sure that there is a fracture and determine the further course of action. First aid for limb fractures is carried out only if the patient is already safe.
2. If the victim is unconscious and not breathing, the first step is to carry out resuscitation measures and bring him to his senses.
3. For open fractures, you must first stop the bleeding and treat the wound with an antiseptic to avoid infection; if possible, it is advisable to apply a sterile bandage.
4. If medications are available, you should numb the injured limb by injecting ketorolac (1 ampoule), novocaine (5 ml) or another suitable remedy.
5. It is necessary to immobilize the limb and call an ambulance. In some cases, it is possible to independently deliver the victim to a medical facility.

Symptoms and signs of limb fracture

First aid for broken limbs is provided only if you are convinced that the victim received a fracture and not another type of injury. So, the absolute signs of a limb fracture are:

• visible deformation of the damaged area;
• in some cases - impossibility of movement;
• increased mobility, unnatural position of the arm/leg (or parts thereof);
• superficial wound and visible bone fragments in an open fracture;
• characteristic crunch at the moment of impact.

Relative signs of a fracture, i.e. symptoms that in some cases may accompany other injuries, are:

• pain in the damaged area, which intensifies during movement;
• hematoma, and throbbing pain indicates that internal bleeding continues;
• swelling and swelling in the area of ​​injury, which can develop within 15 minutes after the fracture;
• limited mobility, the damaged limb, as a rule, does not function at all or partially.

Assessing the victim's condition

First aid for an open fracture of a limb, closed injury, cracks or other injuries involves examining the victim, assessing his condition and the situation around the scene of the incident. If danger is still present, people should be evacuated to safe place and only then begin to provide

The victim should be examined for additional injuries, bleeding, potential injuries, and vital signs checked: presence and rate of pulse and breathing, ability to respond to external stimuli(light, sound). If the person is conscious, you should establish contact with the victim, ask about complaints, location and nature of pain.

What is important is that it is unacceptable to move the victim unless absolutely necessary and without applying transport splints to the injured limb.

Unconscious state of the victim

First aid for broken limbs involves bringing a person to consciousness and carrying out resuscitation measures if necessary. So, you should provide the victim with peace and try to bring the person to consciousness with the help of external stimuli - patting the cheeks, cold water or cotton wool soaked in ammonia and brought to the nose.

Resuscitation measures

If there is no breathing or pulse, it is necessary to perform artificial respiration and cardiac massage. For successful resuscitation measures, the victim must lie on a hard surface. With one hand you should grab your chin, with the other you should pinch your nose. The victim's head is slightly tilted back, the mouth should be open. The person providing assistance takes a deep breath and then exhales smoothly, tightly covering the victim’s mouth. Artificial respiration should be carried out through a napkin or special device. Exhale into the victim’s mouth should be done every four seconds until spontaneous breathing is restored.

It is carried out as follows: the person providing first aid places his hands crosswise on the victim’s chest and applies pressure (the chest should drop four to five centimeters). You should do 30 pushes, and then change compression to ventilation. carried out in a ratio of thirty pushes to two breaths.

Traumatic shock: procedure

In case of traumatic shock, first aid for (as well as upper) involves stopping bleeding, providing comfortable conditions (for example, in the cold, a person should be covered to prevent frostbite) and promptly providing medical care in a hospital setting. If there are no fractures of the lower extremities, the victim’s legs should be raised 15-30 centimeters.

Stopping bleeding and treating the wound

First aid for extremities involves stopping bleeding and treating the wound. Firstly, the limb should be given the correct position and freed from clothing, since increasing swelling in the future may not allow this to be done. Next, you need to apply a tourniquet or tight bandage to the wound (preferably sterile) and treat the edges of the damaged skin with a disinfectant. Be sure to record the exact time the bandage was applied.

You can give the victim an analgesic to relieve pain. Analgin, paracetamol, Nurofen, Ketorol and the like are suitable. In a hospital setting, if necessary, stronger narcotic painkillers can be used. These include Fentanyl, Nalbuphine or Promedrol.

Immobilization of the injured limb

First aid for limb fractures involves immobilizing the damaged area of ​​the bone. The immobility of a limb can be ensured in several ways: tying the damaged lower limb to a healthy one, fixing it with improvised means, or bandaging it to the body. If it is not possible to provide transport immobilization with special splints, you can use any flat, hard object. The arm or leg should be fixed in a normal physiological position. Be sure to place a cotton-gauze pad between the splint and the limb.

When immobilizing, several rules and requirements should be taken into account:

• the splint must immobilize at least two joints to prevent additional damage to soft tissues from bone fragments;
• the size of the fixing splint should be comparable to the damaged area;
• Immobilization is usually carried out over clothing and shoes, but it is worth removing bulky items from the victim;
• First aid for fractures of the upper extremities (as well as the lower ones) is provided, if possible, with an assistant.

After carrying out all the necessary measures to provide first aid, you should definitely call an ambulance. The victim will require qualified medical assistance and care.

Despite the fact that our bones are strong and can withstand a certain pressure, their fractures, i.e. damage is very common. Such violations of the integrity of bone tissue can vary depending on the complexity - complete or incomplete, closed and open, with or without changes in the form of displacement. If a problem arises, you cannot do without the help of doctors, so you should contact a traumatologist as soon as possible. in case of fractures, it will help prevent complications and improve the condition of the victim before the doctors arrive.

How to determine whether a bone is broken or not

The speed of detection of a fracture is the key to proper treatment and quick recovery. Such damage may be indicated by:

• intense pain in the area of ​​injury;
• violation of the joint shape or bone structure;
• loss of limb functionality;
• excessive mobility of the arms or legs;
• audibility of crunching in bone fragments during palpation.

There are also external signs of damage. These include swelling in the soft tissues located above the fracture, as well as the appearance of hemorrhages. If the damage is open, the wound will be lacerated and bone fragments can be found in it.

If a child is injured, it is necessary to ask him to move a limb or finger. If there is pain or difficulty making a movement, a fracture is confirmed. However, you can reliably verify this type of damage using x-ray results.

First aid for open and closed fractures

If you meet a victim with a fracture, then you need to take three main actions:

1. For complete immobilization, fixation is performed by applying a splint or splint. Cardboard and flat boards can be used. The splint is not applied directly to the skin. There should be at least one layer of fabric or other soft material between it and the body.
2. The bandage should be secured with a bandage.
3. If possible, apply ice to the damaged area.

If damage to the limbs occurs, the bandage for fixation should be applied to cover 2 or more joints on both sides of the fracture site. If the anatomical features do not allow the installation of a splint, then the bone is fixed to the body, as, for example, if the collarbone or finger is damaged.

Victims with a hip fracture are not moved, but left in a horizontal position. Problems with the pelvic bone require placing the person on his back in the frog position. If the ribs are injured, then bandage the chest with a height at the level of exhalation.

A spinal fracture becomes a serious problem. In this case, it is necessary to lay the victim with his back on a leveled plane and immobilize him. When already in a horizontal position, the board is slipped under the person without moving the body.

In case of an open fracture, it is important to comply with the following conditions:

• you cannot insert bone fragments yourself;
• the wound is treated with an antiseptic;
• if intense bleeding is observed, it is stopped by applying a tourniquet;
• a sterile bandage is placed on the wound;
• the damaged area is immobilized.

It is sometimes difficult for young patients to tell where they feel pain. Therefore, it is necessary to carefully examine the condition of the victim and identify the location of the fracture.

The sequence of action is similar to that for injuries to adult patients. Since they are not very resistant to pain, after immobilizing the damaged part of the body, you should immediately consult a doctor.

First aid for sprained limbs

Appears as a result of injury to the limbs, due to a sharp muscle contraction, after physical impact, or when parents excessively stretch the child’s arm. The injury is accompanied by a specific pop and the appearance of pain with limited movement. Articular deformation is observed, swelling appears.

In the process of providing assistance you need to:

1. Immobilize the limb using a splint on the joint.
2. Apply cold, excluding heat and compresses.
3. Pain relief with an analgesic.
4. Treat the bruise with alcohol or hydrogen peroxide.

The main condition effective treatment fracture is to promptly consult a doctor for medical help. After the manipulation, medications with anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and decongestant effects are prescribed. At the next stage, the patient is often sent home, where folk remedies can be taken to speed up recovery.

Common Mistakes

There is an important rule in providing first aid - do not harm the victim. The following mistakes should be avoided:

1. If an accident occurs or a person falls from a height, then you should not touch him or move him unnecessarily.
2. You cannot set dislocations or return bones to their original location.
3. When immobilizing, remember that forcible straightening of the limb is not allowed.
4. If you don't know how to apply a tourniquet correctly, don't do it. Minor bleeding can be stopped with a tight bandage, finger compression, or tamponing. When applying a tourniquet, observe the duration of clamping.
5. If there is an open fracture, do not touch the bone fragments. Foreign objects should not be removed from wounds.
6. For spinal injuries, hip bone, skulls, extreme care should be taken.

Conclusion

Immediately after an injury, you must follow several important rules. It is important to identify a fracture in a timely manner, since often the signs can be similar to a dislocation or bruise, and several days pass before going to the hospital. It is necessary to clearly know the symptoms. Of course, its manifestation will depend on the complexity of the injury, but you should pay attention to deformation disorders, unnatural condition, excessive bone mobility, pain in the injury area and the appearance of swelling with hemorrhage.

When performing first aid procedures, it is necessary to take measures to restore integrity, stop blood loss, treat the wound with antiseptic substances and immobilize the limb. After this, the patient will need to be transported to a medical facility.

Fracture is called a partial or complete violation of the integrity of the bone as a result of its impact, compression, compression, bending. After a complete fracture, the bone fragments are displaced. With an incomplete fracture, the bone is partially damaged - a fracture or crack is formed. Fractures happen closed(without damaging the skin), open(with violation of skin integrity) and complicated(bleeding, crushing of surrounding tissues).

Signs of a fracture: pain, swelling, change in shape and shortening of the limb, the appearance of mobility at the site of injury, “crunching” of fragments. A fracture is always accompanied by damage to soft tissues. Particularly dangerous are damage to large vessels and nerve trunks, the formidable companions of which are acute blood loss and traumatic shock. In the case of an open fracture, there is a risk of wound infection.

In case of fractures, when providing first aid, you should under no circumstances try to compare bone fragments - eliminate the curvature of the limb in a closed fracture or straighten the protruding bone in an open one, because fragments, shifting, often damage blood vessels, nerves and internal organs. For fractures and joint injuries, the main thing in first aid is reliable and timely immobilization of the damaged part of the body, which leads to a reduction in pain and prevents the development of traumatic shock, eliminates the risk of additional damage and reduces the possibility of infected complications.

Temporary immobilization for bone fractures is usually carried out using various types of splints made of various materials: wood, plastic, metal, rubber. The splints must ensure the immobility of the two joints adjacent to the fracture site. In the absence of standard means, you can use available means: boards, sticks, plywood, cardboard, etc. In exceptional cases, transport immobilization is allowed by bandaging the injured limb to a healthy part of the body: the upper one to the torso, the lower one to the healthy leg.

Fracture of the skull bones. Broken bones often damage the brain, which is compressed as a result of hemorrhage. Signs of a fracture are: violation of the shape of the skull; break (dent); leakage of cranial fluid and blood from the nose and ears; loss of consciousness.

To fix the neck and head, a soft fabric collar is placed on the neck. To transport the victim, they are placed on a stretcher, a soft bedding with a recess is placed under the head, and soft cushions rolled up from clothing or other available material are placed on the sides.

For fractures of the upper jaw The simplest method of immobilization is a circular bandage or scarf. When applying it, the lower jaw is pulled towards the upper jaw until the teeth are closed and fixed in this position with vertical moves of the bandage around the head or with a scarf. In cases where the teeth do not close together, a strip of plywood or a piece of ruler is inserted between the jaws and pressed against the upper jaw.

Fracture of the lower jaw may lead to asphyxia (suffocation). If a person loses consciousness as a result of an injury and lies on his back, the tongue may retract and immediately suffocate. It is necessary to give the victim a sitting position with his head tilted or put him on his stomach with his head turned to the side. Sometimes they resort to stitching the tongue with a pin and provide immobilization of the lower jaw.

With a fracture of the humerus the forearm is bent at a right angle at the elbow joint, and two splints are applied to the broken bone of the shoulder: one on the outside of the shoulder, and the other from the armpit to the elbow joint. Then both splints are bandaged to the shoulder and the bent forearm is suspended on a belt or scarf.

In the absence of a service splint (Fig. 12, a) or available means, the arm bent at the elbow is suspended on a scarf, belt and bandaged to the body (Fig. 12, b).

Rice. 12. Immobilization for a humerus fracture

Clavicle fracture more often occurs when falling on an outstretched arm. Medical care should be aimed at immobilizing the belt of the upper limbs (Fig. 13, a).

Rice. 13. Fixation of hands in case of a clavicle fracture

A ball of cotton wool is placed in the armpit on the injured side and the shoulder is tightly bandaged to the body, and the forearm is suspended on a scarf, and the arm is attached to the body with a second scarf. The injured hand can be placed on the raised hem of the jacket (Fig. 13, b).

Rib fractures accompanied by pain when breathing. Immobilization - a tight bandage on the chest. The first passes of the bandage are made while the victim is exhaling.

Spinal fracture – the most severe and painful injury. Even minor displacements of bone fragments can lead to death. Therefore, it is strictly forbidden to sit or stand a victim with a spinal injury. He should first be given an anesthetic (morphine, promedol, analgin, etc.), and then placed on a flat, hard board or board (Fig. 14).

Rice. 14. Splints made from boards for a spinal fracture

It is necessary to lift a victim with a spinal fracture very carefully, in one step, so as not to cause displacement of fragments and more severe destruction of the spinal cord and pelvic organs. Several people can lift the victim by holding his clothes and acting in concert, on command (Fig. 15).

Rice. 15. Placing the victim on a stretcher

In the absence of such a shield, the victim is placed lying on his stomach on a regular stretcher, with pads or bolsters placed under his shoulders and head (Fig. 16).

Rice. 16. Position of the patient with a spinal fracture

A person with a fracture of the cervical spine should be left on his back with a bolster under his shoulder blades, and his head and neck should be supported by placing soft objects around their sides.

Fracture of the pelvic bones. It is impossible to place the victim on a soft stretcher, only on a shield (wide board, plywood) or on a stretcher with plywood placed on it (Fig. 17). The victim is placed on his back, his legs are spread apart (“frog position”) and a thick pad made of a folded blanket or rolled-up clothing is placed under his knees: In this position, the limbs are fixed with a spacer and bandages.

Rice. 17. Position of the patient with a fracture of the pelvic bones

For a fracture of the forearm bones the arm at the elbow joint is bent at a right angle with the palm facing the body. The splint is taken such a length that one end covers the fingers, and the other extends beyond the elbow joint. In this position, the splint is secured with a bandage, and the hand is suspended on a scarf or belt.

Fractures of the bones of the hand andfingers. Damaged bent fingers (giving a “grasping” position to the hand) are bandaged to a cotton roll, hung on a scarf or splinted.

For fractures of the lower extremities The transport splint is usually applied to the straightened leg (Fig. 18). In this case, you must have at least two large tires. One of them is applied along the outer surface of the limb, with one end of it being under the armpit and the other protruding slightly beyond the foot. The second splint is applied along the inner surface of the leg so that one end reaches the perineum and the other protrudes beyond the edge of the foot. In this position, the splints are bandaged to the body.

Rice. 18. Methods of immobilization

for fractures of the lower extremities.

If there are no service splints or available means, the injured leg should be bandaged to the healthy leg.

In case of fractures of the foot bones, a plank is bandaged to the sole.

All methods of immobilizing bandage should provide good fixation of the fracture site and not disrupt the blood supply to the injured limb. Therefore, when applying a transport splint, it is necessary to ensure immobility in the joints above and below the fracture site.

To prevent strong compression and pain, the splint is wrapped with cotton wool and a bandage. In case of an open fracture, stop the bleeding, apply an aseptic bandage to the wound, and only then begin immobilization.