First Aid for Broken Bones:Emergency Conditions

For Broken Bones

Signs & Symptoms

Symptoms of broken bones are pain, swelling, bruising, and loss of function or feeling. The injured area looks crooked, misshaped, or deformed. Below the injured site, numbness and tingling can occur. The skin can be pale, blue, purple, or gray. It feels colder than the skin on the uninjured limb.

With a simple or closed fracture, the broken bone does not break the skin. A skin wound is not present.

With a compound or open fracture, the broken bone breaks through the skin and a wound is present. This can cause bleeding.

Causes

• Injuries from falls and accidents.
• Osteoporosis.
• Too much or repeated stress on a bone.

Treatment

The bone may need to be reset. A splint or cast may need to be worn. {Note: Broken fingers, toes, and ribs don’t need a cast.} Muscles and joints near the fracture site need to be exercised.

For Dislocations

Signs & Symptoms

A dislocation is a separation of the end of a bone and the joint it meets. The bone is displaced from its proper position. A dislocated joint is swollen, misshaped, very painful, and discolored.

Dislocations can cause damage to the membrane lining the joint, tears to nearby muscles and ligaments, and nerve damage.

The shoulders are especially prone to dislocation injuries. The elbow is a common site in toddlers. Fingers, hips, ankles, elbows, jaws, and even the spine can be dislocated. A dislocated vertebrae in the spine often damages the spinal cord and can paralyze body parts lower than the injury site.

Causes

• Injuries from contact sports or falls. Over stretching bones that touch in joints.
• Joints weakened by previous injury.
• Suddenly jerking a toddler’s hand or arm. Force applied in the wrong direction can snap the ball of the upper arm bone out of the shoulder socket.

Treatment

Medical care is needed to put a dislocated bone back into its socket. With this, the dislocated joint should function within 24 to 48 hours. Limited activity for 4 to 6 weeks allows enough time for the injury to heal.

Self-Care / First Aid

For Broken Bones Before Getting Medical Care

Note: If a head, neck, or spine injury is suspected, see Head / Neck / Spine Injuries.

For an Open Fracture

• Monitor for signs of shock.
• Control bleeding with direct pressure. Do not press on or move a bone that sticks out. Do not reset the bone.
• Immobilize the wound with a splint. Use a firm material, such as a folded newspaper or broom handle. Secure the splint above and below the injury or tie the injured part to an uninjured part. Use shoe laces, belts, etc. to hold the splint in place. Do not tie too tightly. Check the area below the splint to make sure that the skin is warm and pink in color. If not, loosen the ties.

For Fractures to Limbs

• To make an arm splint, put padding between the arm and the body. If an elbow is not involved, place the arm across the chest and wrap a cloth around the entire body. If the elbow is involved, place the arm straight or slightly bent against the body. Wrap the cloth around the body and arm.
• Make a sling with a triangular piece of cloth. Place the largest part under the arm and tie the ends at the neck.
• Make a splint for a leg or tie the injured leg to the other leg. Place padding in between the legs. Do not tie the splint too tightly. This could interfere with blood flow.
• Use cold packs on the injured site. Do not use ice next to the skin. This can cause frostbite.
• For pain, take an over-the-counter pain reliever as directed. Don’t use aspirin if you have bleeding.

For Dislocations

Dislocations need medical care. The longer they are out, the harder it is to get them back in.

• If a head, neck, or back injury is suspected, see Head / Neck / Spine Injuries.
• Immobilize the injured area above and below the injured joint.
• Don’t try to straighten a bone or joint that is misshaped. Don’t try to put a joint back in its socket.
• Apply cold packs to relieve pain and swelling.
• Follow your doctor’s instructions.
• Take an over-the-counter medicine for pain as directed.