home Audience 6 The first signs of a closed fracture. Types of fracture fusion Reliable signs of a fracture include

The first signs of a closed fracture. Types of fracture fusion Reliable signs of a fracture include

Necessary signs that help differentiate true bone damage from severe soft tissue contusion. Signs are conventionally divided into absolute, that is, obvious and beyond doubt, and relative, that is, indicative. Absolute symptoms of a fracture are characteristic and immediately confirm a fracture; indicative symptoms may indicate a possible bone injury, but they may also be signs of other clinically similar injuries.

What are the symptoms of a fracture?

Fracture symptoms are relative:

There is pain, which may increase with stress on the fracture site. If your tibia is broken, tapping your heel will increase the pain in the area of the injury;
Swelling may form at the site of the fracture, but it does not always develop quickly and cannot serve as direct evidence of a fracture; on the contrary, it is more likely evidence of a bruise or sprain;
A hematoma may not form immediately, if the hematoma is pulsating, this indicates extensive hemorrhage into the subcutaneous tissue;
Limitation of motor activity, movement causes pain;
The damaged bone or limb may look atypical (fracture of the radius, tibia, etc.).

Absolute symptoms of a fracture:

Clearly uncharacteristic position and appearance of the limb;
Excessive mobility in areas where there are no joints;
On palpation, a characteristic crunching sound is felt - crepitus; crepitus can be heard using a phonendoscope, sometimes with the naked ear;
An open wound and bone fragments with an open fracture.

Reliable symptoms of a fracture are pathological, uncharacteristic mobility of the bone at the site of injury, open wounds, changes in the relationship of the joints, and crepitus. Possible symptoms of a fracture are swelling, single or multiple hematomas, and pain.

A fracture is diagnosed in the standard way - examination, palpation, percussion (for a spinal fracture), determination of finger mobility, and x-ray. Attention is also paid to the skin in areas peripheral to the site of injury, their color and shade are studied. Bluish-pale skin, sometimes with a marble pattern, indicates damage to the nerve endings and blood vessels of the limb. Also an alarming signal is a weak pulse or its absence in characteristic places where the pulse has always been palpable (radial artery, dorsum of the feet, popliteal area). It is necessary to determine whether there is a violation of blood flow in the peripheral zones of the upper or lower extremities. The most accurate and reliable method for diagnosing fractures of any location and type is an x-ray. As a rule, it is carried out in several projections to see the condition of nearby joints. An x-ray of the uninjured paired limb may also be prescribed to determine the asymmetry and relationship of landmarks of the skeletal system. X-rays provide specific information about the nature and severity of the fracture, possible displacement or the presence of bone fragments.

Symptoms of a fracture and its types

Symptoms of an ankle fracture

Such injuries are conventionally divided into four groups:

Isolated, separate ankle (ankle) fractures;
A fracture with the foot turned inward is adduction;
Fracture with rotation of the foot from the outside - out - abduction;
Fracture of two ankles with damage to the tibia.

If both ankles are damaged, the fracture is accompanied by a dislocation. Clinical symptoms of a fracture are swelling that grows quite quickly, often a hematoma at the site of injury, and severe pain.

Symptoms of a tibia fracture

Such traumatic injuries are very common and account for up to 30% of the total number of fractures. The clinical symptoms of a fracture are typical, but with a lower leg injury, hemarthrosis (accumulation of blood in the joint cavity) often occurs. Visually, the lower leg is displaced either outward or inward. The knee does not function, its lateral movements are impaired.

Symptoms of a broken arm

Hands lead in the number of common injuries; they are most often associated with domestic causes. Characteristic symptoms of a fracture are: the presence of swelling, severe pain at the fracture site, especially pain in the elbow joint. Sometimes a hand injury is accompanied by an increase in body temperature, which may indicate severe hemorrhage at the site of injury (combined fracture of the forearm). Deformation of the arm is noticeable only with a displaced fracture; crepitus is also uncharacteristic. The crunch appears only in the case of multiple, splinter fractures of the bone.

Symptoms of a spinal fracture of varying severity

The symptoms of a fracture of this kind are very characteristic and, as a rule, do not raise doubts. Spinal injuries are considered the most alarming and dangerous, sometimes not only for the health, but also for the life of the victim. When a fracture occurs, severe compression occurs on one of the main hematopoietic organs - the spinal cord. Such an injury is fraught with complete immobility and paralysis. In addition to the typical signs characteristic of all fractures, spinal injury is manifested by severe deformation, protrusion or drowning of the vertebrae. There is acute pain, especially when palpating the damaged area. Often a spinal fracture is accompanied by immobility and loss of sensation in the area below the waist. This loss of control of the lower half of the body leads to urinary and fecal incontinence or retention.

Symptoms of a fracture are almost always obvious; they can only be confused with a severe bruise. In any case, before seeking medical help, it is necessary to ensure the victim’s immobility and immobilize the injured area. The final diagnosis can be made by a surgeon using examination, palpation and x-rays.

A fracture of the lower limb belongs to the category of traumatic violations of the integrity of bone tissue that occurs after a traumatic mechanical impact from the outside. Moreover, the intensity of the impact must exceed the limits that the bone can withstand. Development is not caused by mechanical damage alone; the presence of concomitant systemic pathology also plays a role, leading to increased fragility of bone tissue and predisposition to fractures.

The severity of injury in a lower limb injury directly depends on the location of the injury, the condition of the bone tissue and the nature of the injury. If the fractures are multiple after massive exposure, the general condition of the body may suffer, the temperature may rise and general intoxication may develop. After a fracture, massive blood loss with the development of shock is possible. Treatment and rehabilitation in such cases are greatly complicated.

In medical practice, it is customary to distinguish a number of classifications. Lists are compiled based on the location of the injury, the nature of the damage and the condition of the tissues after the traumatic impact. Below are common types of fractures, the classification of which has practical significance.

Compression fractures of the lower extremities are minor cracks that develop after prolonged exposure to a traumatic object on the legs. This type of injury is typical for people who play sports professionally.
Fracture of the bones of the lower limb or pelvic bones without displacement of bone fragments. With this type, there is no deviation of bone fragments from the general axis of the limb. Damage to the surrounding soft tissues of the leg is determined.
Fracture with displacement of bone fragments. In this situation, the broken part of the bone is displaced relative to the other part and relative to the axis of movement. The described disorders can be easily identified upon examination by the characteristic deformation of the lower limb. Rehabilitation for injuries is long. When bone fragments of a child's tibia are displaced, a pin is not used; instead of inserting a pin, patch traction is performed.
A comminuted fracture is characterized by the breaking of bone into separate pieces.
An open fracture is accompanied by damage to soft tissues, disruption of the integrity of the skin, and protrusion of a bone fragment. With such a fracture, infection quickly develops, the temperature rises, and signs of general intoxication appear. Trauma can lead to rupture of a large vessel and the development of massive bleeding. Large blood loss can lead to hemorrhagic shock.

In a child, injury to the tubular bones of the leg sometimes occurs without damage to the periosteum. the child received the name “like a green branch.”

General characteristics of fractures

After exposure to a traumatic agent of various types, characteristic signs and symptoms develop:

All of these signs are considered relative and may have another clinical explanation. Similar symptoms are possible with a bruise. Then the patient is given a splint, painkillers and rest are prescribed. To make a diagnosis of the foot and pelvic regions, a number of absolute diagnostic criteria have been created. In this case, painkillers are prescribed, a splint is applied and symptomatic therapy is carried out. When fragments are displaced, wires are used to ensure proper fusion.

If a child is injured in the lower leg, thigh or pelvic bone, the general condition worsens - the temperature rises and general weakness develops.

Absolute signs

The absolute criteria for diagnosing a fracture of the lower extremities are clinical signs characteristic exclusively of a bone fracture. With a bruise, such phenomena are not observed.

The limb is in the wrong position and takes on an unnatural appearance.
Mobility develops in uncharacteristic areas of the lower leg or thigh, where it is normally absent. With this type of pathological mobility, nearby joints are not involved.
On palpation in the area of the lower leg or in the area of the pelvic bones, a characteristic crepitus is felt. Caused by friction of shin bone fragments against each other. Similar symptoms occur when the integrity of the pelvic bones is violated.
With the open type, fragments of the bones of the leg or foot are visible protruding through the wound on the leg. In this situation, it is recommended to apply a sterile dressing and stop the bleeding. In case of an open fracture, a splint is applied to the uninjured side of the limb.

Foot injuries

Requires special care and attention. The foot anatomically consists of a large number of individual bones, interconnected with each other and with other bones of the leg. If one fragment is damaged, the same will inevitably affect the remaining parts. With improperly healed or untreated foot injuries, there is a risk of developing flat feet or arthrosis.

It occurs in the metatarsal bone, tarsal region and phalanges of the fingers.

Any type of damage requires a treatment duration of 2 weeks, or three weeks for complicated forms of bone loss. A plaster splint is applied to the limb, and the patient is instructed to move using crutches. Rehabilitation will be required in the future.

General signs of a violation of the integrity of the foot include similar symptoms as with the other option: pain in the affected area, swelling, dysfunction. Painkillers provide relief only for a short time.

A typical clinical picture after damage to the metatarsal bone or one of the tarsal bones of the leg is pain on palpation or when trying to stand on the leg, swelling of the plantar part of the leg and deformation of the foot. Swelling may develop and the local temperature in the ankle joint may increase. When you try to turn your leg, you feel a sharp pain in the joint. The foot is noticeably deformed, which can be seen upon examination.

A displaced foot injury in a child exhibits a number of characteristic clinical signs. Pain is expressed in the area of destruction of the bone fragment. The foot is severely swollen and deformed. Edema in a child is especially pronounced in the first day. There may be a high temperature and signs of general malaise.

What is discovered during additional examination?

In addition to clinical manifestations, X-ray examination will finally help determine the diagnosis. The damaged limb is viewed in two projections.

After the operation and installation of the needle, a control study is carried out.

If there is no clear data on the x-ray (often happens when a child is injured), after it is performed, it is possible to conduct magnetic resonance imaging, especially often the study occurs with injuries to the small bones of the foot. If the patient cannot be placed in the scanner for a certain reason, examination using a computed tomograph is possible. This happens with trauma to the pelvic skeleton. The examination of the child is usually carried out under general anesthesia.

Magnetic resonance imaging often reveals signs of injury where x-rays show nothing.

Bone scintigraphy is a reliable diagnostic test. However, the research method has a number of contraindications for use. In particular, in older people, due to a decrease in metabolic rate, the picture becomes unclear and unreliable or gives a false negative result. A relative contraindication is childhood.

It happens that the patient is indicated for surgical intervention. Then a full examination is required, including clinical tests and an electrocardiogram. An indispensable condition must be satisfactory general condition and normal temperature. Otherwise, surgical intervention is postponed until the general condition normalizes.

A bone fracture is a pathological condition in which complete violation of the anatomical integrity of the bone. Fractures are usually caused by external force or force that exceeds the physical strength of the bone tissue.

Causes

Road traffic accidents;
Industrial injuries;
A person falls from a height;
A strong blow to a bone with a heavy object;
Diving into water at shallow depths;
Sports injury;
Sudden contraction of large muscles;
Excessive hyperextension of the bone;
Lifting heavy objects;
Bone compression (for example, due to blockages in mines);
Tuberculosis of bone;
Bone metastases;
Osteoporosis;
Occupational injury (for example, loaders).

Fracture mechanism

There are two mechanisms for the occurrence of a fracture:

Direct (a person experiences a bone fracture at the site of application of force);
Indirect (far from the place where the force is applied).

Types of fractures:

Closed
- Single;
- Multiple;
- Combined;
- Combined.
Open
- Non-firearm;
- Firearms.

How to recognize a fracture

All signs of a bone fracture are divided into reliable and probable.

Reliable or absolute signs of bone fracture:

After injury, a change in bone length occurs. This sign is associated with the displacement of bone fragments along its axis;
The victim experiences pathological mobility in the area of bone damage;
By palpating the site of injury, crepitus of bone fragments can be determined (by hearing);
With open fractures, bone fragments may be visible in the wound.

Most often, reliable signs of bone fracture are observed with closed fractures.

Possible signs of a broken bone:

When examining the damaged area, you can notice deformation at the fracture site (occurs due to displacement of bone fragments, as well as swelling of soft tissues and the formation of a hematoma);
When palpating the injured area of the bone, the victim experiences or intensifies local pain;
When an axial load is created in the damaged bone, the victim experiences pain at the fracture site;
A broken limb occupies a non-physiological position;
Swelling of the soft tissue occurs at the fracture site (however, this symptom can cause false deformation in cases where an incomplete bone fracture has occurred;
At the site of the fracture, the victim experiences a hematoma or hemorrhage (in some cases, the location of the fracture site and hemorrhage may differ, due to the fact that the bruise spreads through the interfascial spaces);
When fractures occur, nerve trunks are often damaged. This symptom manifests itself in the form of a sensitivity disorder;
After a fracture, the physiological function of the injured limb is impaired;
Elderly patients may show signs of disruption of the main arteries (in the form of hemorrhage, pulsatile hematoma, or thrombosis).

How to distinguish a fracture from a bruise

In case of a fracture, there are absolute signs, and in case of a bruise, reliable signs are present. The final diagnosis is established after an X-ray examination of the injury site. With incomplete bone fractures (for example, with a crack), the patient may not have reliable signs of a fracture.

Local manifestations of open and closed fractures

Pain

Any bone damage causes pain. The intensity and duration of pain in the victim depends on the type and location of the injury. For example, fractures of the distal phalanges of the fingers or toes cause a more intense pain syndrome than with equivalent injuries to the bones of the thigh or leg. This is due to the peculiarities of the location of nerve trunks and nerve endings. Pain is tolerated differently by patients.

Each person has a certain pain sensitivity threshold. Patients with an unstable nervous system and psyche, as well as children, react to pain more severely than elderly patients.

People who were intoxicated at the time of injury perceive pain less acutely. That's why pain is not the leading symptom in recognizing the nature of the fracture.

Swelling

In most victims, a few hours after the injury, smoothness of the contours of the limb appears. This sign is caused by hemorrhages and impaired microcirculation and lymph. Typically, more pronounced swelling appears in those places where the bone is practically not covered by muscles and there is well-developed subcutaneous fat.

After about 2-3 days, swelling at the fracture site can develop into traumatic edema, which is characterized by diffuse compaction of soft tissues and the appearance of an area of hyperemia. However, these signs are not pathognomonic in the case of differential diagnosis of damage.

Hemorrhages

With fractures, victims often experience damage to blood vessels.

Types of hemorrhages during fractures:

Subcutaneous hematomas usually occur 15-30 minutes after injury; if the victim has significant subcutaneous fat, then 2-3 hours later. The prevalence of subcutaneous hematoma depends on which vessels were damaged as a result of injury (arterioles, venules, small veins and arteries).

With more severe injuries, the victim experiences subcutaneous and interfascial hemorrhages. They cause bursting pain in a person and an increase in body temperature. The patient experiences an increase in the circumference of the damaged area of the limb and a disruption of its physiological function.

In some victims, a subcutaneous hematoma may become infected and develop phlegmon (purulent melting of tissue). Subungual hematoma usually occurs with fractures of the distal phalanges of the fingers or toes. Very often, victims experience detachment of the nail phalanx, which is accompanied by intense pain.

Hemarthrosis

Most intra-articular fractures are accompanied by hemarthrosis. Hemorrhage into the joint usually occurs in the first hours after injury and is accompanied by damage to the ligaments and joint capsule. If the victim has excessive accumulation of blood in the joint, this leads to overstretching of the joint capsule, deformation of the menisci and the cartilaginous part of the bones. Hemarthrosis very often leads to disruption of the physiological function of the joint - limitation of active movements.

Limb deformity

Limb deformity occurs when bones are fractured.

The degree of deformation of an arm or leg, as a rule, depends on the length of the damaged segment and the degree of displacement of bone fragments.

So, for example, if the victim has a fracture of the femur, then under the influence of the traction of the gluteal muscles, a “breeches-like deformation” of the bone occurs.

Impaired blood circulation, innervation and lymph flow

In severe injuries of the musculoskeletal system, compression of large blood vessels and nerves occurs with the resulting bone fragments and hematoma. If a blood vessel is compressed or ruptured, the victim experiences pain below the damaged bone segment, which is caused by tissue ischemia processes.

The main clinical signs of circulatory disorders in the injured limb are:

Absence of pulsation in the peripheral vessels of the limb;
Change in color of the skin of the limb - blanching;
The appearance of a characteristic “marble” pattern;
Local temperature decreases (the limb is cool to the touch);
Soft tissue swelling develops;
Pain sensitivity in the damaged area disappears completely.

If the victim has an anatomical rupture of the peripheral nerves, as a rule, all types of sensitivity are impaired and motor function is impaired. In some patients, the nerves may be compressed by the resulting hematoma, resulting in burning pain, swelling, and limited movement of the limb.

Diagnostics

Anamnesis;
Complaints;
Clinical signs of fracture;
Additional examination methods;
Consultations with specialized specialists (neurologist, vascular surgeon, neurosurgeon).

A final diagnosis can be made to the victim only after an X-ray examination of the fracture.

The injured bone is removed in at least two projections with the obligatory capture of adjacent joints. In some cases, the patient needs to undergo a computed tomogram or magnetic resonance imaging.

First aid

Anesthesia (general and local);
Anti-shock measures (restoration of cardiac activity and breathing);
Stop bleeding;
Replenishment of circulating blood volume;
Immobilization of the injured limb;
Prevention of various complications (shock, wound infection);
Transporting the victim to the trauma department of the hospital.

Treatment

There are two main ways to treat fractures:

Conservative;
Operational.

Types and methods of treatment depend not only on the severity of the fracture, but also on which bone was damaged.

Conservative treatment includes;

Reposition of bone fragments;
Immobilization of the limb to fix bone fragments.

After reposition, the traumatologist must choose a method of fixation of bone fragments that not only provides reliable fixation, but also does not cause complications in the patient.

Unfortunately, not all immobilization methods allow the patient to join the rehabilitation process early and contribute to his early activation.

Methods for fixing bone fragments:

Plaster splints;
Plaster casts;
Therapeutic splints;
Skeletal traction method;
Devices for extrafocal transosseous fixation;
Immersion osteosynthesis method.

Surgical treatment is permissible only after stabilization of the patient’s general condition. During the operation, the surgeon fixes the bone fragments using metal structures (wires, plates, bolts).

After a fracture, for the speedy formation of callus, elderly patients and postmenopausal women, as well as patients with signs of osteoporosis, are recommended to take calcium supplements (Calcium - D3-Nycomed, Kalcemin) and multivitamin complexes. In the acute period after injury and in the postoperative period, the doctor prescribes painkillers and anti-inflammatory tablets and injections to the patient (Nimesulide, Analgin, Tempalgin, Spazmalgol, Meloxicam, Ketorol, Diclofenac).

After an injury, ointments (Ultrafastin, Diclofenac, Voltaren, Ketoprofen, Fastum Gel) can be used to reduce pain in the limbs.

Rehabilitation program after fractures

After a bone fracture, during the period of treatment and rehabilitation, the patient should eat foods enriched with fat-soluble and water-soluble vitamins and minerals. Must be included in your diet daily foods that contain calcium– eggs, milk, cheese, cottage cheese, vegetables and fruits.

If the patient has an intra-articular fracture or cartilage has been damaged as a result of injury, then medications are prescribed that prevent their destruction (Teraflex, Dona, Alflutop).

The success of rehabilitation measures depends on the desire and efforts of the patient.

A fracture occurs when the integrity of a bone is broken due to injury. Many types and signs of fractures are easy to detect on the spot, without the help of a specialist, but some of them are insidious in that the victim may not immediately understand that he has a fracture, and urgently needs medical help: he continues to lead his previous lifestyle, experiencing minor pain and limited movement, believing that there was a severe injury.

Let's figure out which signs of a fracture reveal themselves in the very first minute after an injury, and which only indicate that the bone is probably damaged.

Clinical signs of fractures

Depending on the type of fracture, its signs can be divided into reliable - those that leave no doubt that the bone was deformed from an impact, and relative - those that may raise doubts: there is a fracture or bruise.

Reliable signs of fractures:

Unnatural position of an arm or leg (if we are talking about signs of a limb fracture).
Mobility of the broken part in the place where there is no joint.
The sound of crunching.
With an open fracture, bone fragments are visible in the wound.
Shortening or lengthening the injured area.

If at least one of these symptoms is confirmed, then we can say with 100% probability that there is a fracture. However, the presence of these signs does not eliminate the obligation to undergo an X-ray examination.

Relative signs of a fracture:

Painful sensations at the fracture site when immobilized or during movements. Also, if you apply an axial load, the pain intensifies (for example, if you knock on the heel during a fracture of the tibia).
Swelling at the fracture site can occur quickly (within 15 minutes after injury) or develop over several hours. At the same time, such a symptom has a minor role in determining a fracture, because it also accompanies other types of damage.
Hematoma. It may be absent, but often still occurs at the site of the fracture, and not always immediately. If it pulsates, it means the bleeding is continuing.
Limitation of mobility. As a rule, the damaged part cannot function either at all or partially. If there is a fracture not of a limb, but, for example, of the coccyx, then the person will feel difficulty walking, i.e. there is not only a limitation in the function of the damaged part, but also of those that come into contact with it.

The presence of these signs cannot indicate with 100% probability a fracture, but many from this category accompany any fracture (pain, swelling, limitation of movement).

Signs of a closed fracture

All fractures are classified into open and closed. The latter are much easier to diagnose than the former without x-rays and the help of a specialist.

A closed fracture is not accompanied by damage to soft tissues: in this case, bones and joints suffer, which can change position (the so-called displaced fracture) or simply lose integrity: split (the so-called comminuted fracture), while maintaining the same position.

The first signs of a fracture are pain in the area of injury and swelling. Movement is limited, causes pain, and bone movement may also occur outside of the joint area (depending on the location of the injury). A hematoma often forms.

The only way to definitively verify that a closed fracture has occurred is with the help of an x-ray.

Signs of an open fracture

An open fracture is a more severe injury than a closed one, because in this case, in addition to damaging the bone, the tissue also loses its integrity. This can happen from an external influence (during an accident, or a limb getting caught in a moving mechanism at work) or due to the fact that the broken bone itself damages the tissue.

Based on this, the main signs of an open fracture are a wound, bleeding, visibility of a broken bone or its fragments, pain and swelling. If the damage was very severe, the victim may experience traumatic shock.

Bone fractures are various damage to their integrity as a result of traumatic impact. When an injury occurs, the force exceeds the resistance of the bone tissue and the bone breaks. Based on the reasons for their occurrence, all bone fractures are divided into two main groups: those resulting from strong mechanical impact on a healthy bone and fractures of a pathological nature.

Traumatic bone fractures occur as a result of road accidents, falls, strong impacts and other mechanical impacts on the bones.

With pathological bone fractures, the physical force of the impact can be quite insignificant; the real reason lies in the presence of some pathological process occurring in the bone tissue.

A common cause of pathological bone fracture is the disease osteoporosis (loss of bone tissue), due to which bone tissue becomes extremely fragile and breaks with virtually no external force acting on it, for example, during awkward movements, sudden standing, etc.

The classification of bone fractures by type is extremely diverse. This circumstance is due to the fact that each specific case of a fracture combines a large number of factors accompanying its occurrence - the causes of the fracture, the location of the injury, the nature of the soft tissue injury, etc. In case of displaced bone fractures, each individual case is classified as one or another type according to the type displacement of bone fragments, the nature of the fracture and other parameters.

However, with all the variety of types of bone fractures, there is an urgent need to accurately determine the area of bone tissue that is the center of the fracture.

The most common classification of bone fractures is:

Simple;

Complex (otherwise called wedge-shaped bone fractures, in which multiple splintered bone fragments are formed);

Extra-articular fractures;

Intra-articular fractures.

There is also the following classification of fractures:

Closed bone fractures, in which there is no damage to the outer skin;

Open bone fractures, in which there is a violation of the integrity of the skin in the area of injury and there is a risk of infection.

Symptoms of bone fractures

Traumatologists include the presence of external bruising and swelling in the area of injury as mandatory signs of a bone fracture. As a rule, when it comes to a limb, its functional mobility is significantly limited. When trying to move, the pain syndrome is pronounced. In rare cases (for example, with an impacted fracture of the femoral neck), some victims can continue to move independently, but this fact leads to further injury and displacement of bone fragments. With impacted, subperiosteal, periarticular, intra-articular fractures and bone cracks, some of the above symptoms may be completely absent or not very pronounced.

Diagnosis of bone fractures

Before taking measures to apply plaster (or other options for fixing bone fragments) within the walls of a medical institution, an X-ray examination of the victim of a bone fracture is required. X-rays are always taken in several projections to examine in detail the site of the bone fracture from several different angles.

X-ray examination is the most accurate tool that allows traumatologists to create a complete picture of a bone fracture - its type, location, direction and nature of displacement of fragments.

Then control X-rays are taken to the patient after conservative or surgical fixation of the broken bone. Subsequently, an X-ray examination is prescribed after approximately 14 days (different in each case) to monitor the progress of healing of the broken bone and the formation of callus at the fracture site.

Treatment of bone fractures

Measures to treat a bone fracture should begin directly at the scene of the incident. The most urgent aid in the first minutes after injury should be measures to eliminate pain shock, especially when it comes to bone fractures in children.

Next, you need to take action to stop the bleeding (if any). Immediately after the above first aid measures, immobilization (creating conditions for complete immobility) of the bone fracture site should be ensured using special means or available materials.

In the case of an open bone fracture, a sterile gauze pad and a pressure bandage must be applied to the wound surface on top to prevent the possibility of further bleeding and infection of the wound. In no case should you try to independently set bone fragments protruding from an open wound; this can only cause severe pain to the victim, but also cause significant harm to his health.

First aid for a closed bone fracture consists primarily of immobilizing the damaged area of the body to prevent the possibility of displacement of fragments and the occurrence of internal bleeding.

Timely and competent first aid provided to the victim significantly reduces the subsequent rehabilitation period for bone fractures and guarantees the full restoration of motor functions of the damaged part of the body.

In a hospital setting, the main medical methods for treating bone fractures include the following:

Applying a plaster cast;

Skeletal traction;

Endoprosthetics;

External hardware compression-distraction osteosynthesis;

Internal osteosynthesis, etc.

In order for the victim not to lose his ability to work in the future and to be able to return to his usual way of life as soon as possible, special attention should be paid to the rehabilitation period after a bone fracture. The list of rehabilitation measures after a bone fracture (and especially after long-term immobilization) must certainly include therapeutic exercises and physiotherapeutic procedures.

Video from YouTube on the topic of the article: