Fracture

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What is a fracture:

A fracture is a condition where a bone is cracked, chipped or broken. A broken bone may damage the muscle tissues, nerves and blood vessels nearby, resulting in severe bleeding and nerve damage.

 

Types:

Fractures are divided into the closed and open types. For a closed fracture, the skin at the site of fracture has no wound, while for an open fracture, the skin at the site of fracture has wound(s) and the broken bone may even be exposed.

 

Causes:

Most fractures are caused by trauma.

 

Signs and Symptoms of fractures:

• Pain and tenderness
• Bruising
• Swelling
• Weakness of the injured limb
• Deformity or shortening of the injured limb
• Disability of the injured limb
• Shock may develop if massive bleeding occurs
• In case of an open fracture, there is/are open wound(s) on the skin near the site of fracture.  The ends of the broken bone may stick out through the skin.

 

General principles for handling patients with fracture:

1. Keep calm and call for help immediately
2. Do not move the patient unless there is danger at the scene; if you must move the patient, immobilise and support the injured limb before doing so
3. Provide the patient with basic wound treatment
4. Convey the patient to hospital for medical treatment as soon as possible