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Closed injury
An injury that does not break the continuity of the skin.
Crepitation
The sound made when bone ends rub together or there is air inside the tissue.
Direct injury
An injury that results from a force that comes into direct contact with an area of the body.
Indirect injury
An injury in one body area that results from a force that comes into contact with a different part of the body.
Mechanism of injury
The force that acts upon the body to produce an injury.
Open injury
An injury that breaks the continuity of the skin.
Pneumatic splints
Devices such as air or vacuum splints that conform to the injury.
Position of function
The relaxed position of the hand or foot in which there is minimal movement or stretching of muscle.
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Rigid splints
A type of splint that does not conform to the body.
Traction splints
A special device used to immobilize a midfemur injury.
Twisting injury
An injury that results from a turning motion of the body in opposite directions.
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IN THE FIELD
Varun and Tony were dispatched to a hockey rink late on a Friday evening. The injured man was awake and oriented, and complained only of pain in his left upper thigh. He reported that he was the coach of a team and an angry player swung a hockey stick at his leg. He felt a cracking noise and immediately fell to the ice. Police on scene report that the scene is safe and the angry player has been restrained. Upon assessment, Tony finds that the only injury to the coach is a midshaft deformity in his left upper thigh. The coach's distal pulse is weak and the skin is pale and cool. Varun gets the traction splint while Tony explains the process to the patient. He tells him that by pulling on the leg, the bone might move back into place, relieving him of pain and improving his distal circulation. The patient agrees to the application of the traction splint. Varun carefully holds the leg around the ankle and applies gentle manual traction. Tony applies the splint, and then reassesses the leg, finding the circulation to be improved. Minutes later they have the coach immobilized on the long backboard and are en route to the emergency department. Dealing with musculoskeletal injuries is a common occurrence in the life of most EMTs. Many musculoskeletal injuries are not complicated and will only require careful assessment, splinting, and a trip to the emergency department. Other injuries can threaten the patient's life or limb and will require emergent treatment.
MUSCULOSKELETAL REVIEW
Before we begin discussing these injuries, let's briefly review the musculoskeletal system. For more detailed information, see Chapter 4.
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REVIEW QUESTIONS
MUSCULOSKELETAL REVIEW 1. List three functions of the muscular system. 1. Give the body shape, protect organs, provide for movement 2. What type of muscle is found in the walls of the gastrointestinal tract?
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2. Smooth muscle 3. Muscles that we can control are called ________. 3. voluntary (skeletal) muscles
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Fig. 29-1 The three types of muscles. A, Voluntary (skeletal). B, Involuntary (smooth). C, Cardiac muscles.
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The elderly are often more susceptible to bone injury because of osteoporosis, a disease in which bone matter is lost and there is greater air space within a bone, making them more brittle. Immobilization in the elderly may also be complicated by arthritis. Arthritis is the inflammation of the joints and may produce an angulation that cannot be straightened, such as a curvature of the spine. The bones of children are more flexible and pliable than the bones of adults. Children can sustain serious injuries to the organs and structures underlying bones without having any injuries to the bones themselves. There are even case reports of children with obvious tire tracks on their chests from being run over by a car without breaking any of the bones in the chest.
ALERT!
Lack of musculoskeletal trauma in a child does not indicate there is no serious underlying injury.
MECHANISM OF INJURY
The mechanism of injury can help you determine the severity of the injury. Musculoskeletal injuries usually result from a force applied to an area of the body. Some injuries result from a direct force onto an area of the body. Such a direct injury can be caused by a baseball
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Fig. 29-3 A, A direct mechanism of injury. B, An indirect mechanism of injury. C, A twisting mechanism.
bat swung into a person's arm. The arm's injury results from direct contact with the baseball bat (Fig. 29-3, A). Other injuries are caused by indirect forces. An example of indirect injury is an auto collision in which a patient's knees are thrown forward into the dashboard. The knees are directly injured from contact with the dash, but indirect injury can occur from forces transmitted from the knees through the legs to the hips and pelvis (Fig. 29-3, B). If an extremity is pulled and turned beyond its normal range of motion, a twisting injury may result. For instance, a wrestler who becomes entangled in an opponent's hold may pull and twist his body. This force may produce an injury to the muscles and bones that are twisted (Fig. 29-3, C). Always consider the force that was involved in the cause of the injury. It takes a much greater force to injure a femur (thigh), for example, than it takes to injure the ulna (forearm) because the bone is much larger, more dense, and protected by larger muscles. Gather as much information as possible regarding the mechanism of injury, and include this in your report to the receiving facility. Patients who sustain a serious mechanism of injury but don't have any obvious injuries to their bodies should be carefully evaluated at a trauma center. If the mechanism of injury is serious, always suspect that serious hidden injuries are present and transport the patient to a trauma center.
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Fig. 29-4 An open injury involves a break in the continuity of the skin.
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Fig. 29-5 A closed injury, such as this fractured pelvis, does not involve a break in the skin but may produce internal bleeding.
rubbing together. However, do not purposefully seek this sign, and do not try to repeat it if you note it during the assessment because it may produce further injury. Bone ends can be very sharp and cause damage to nearby blood vessels, nerves and muscle if they are allowed to move. The area of injury may be swollen, appearing larger than the same area on the other side of the body, and may be discolored. In an open bone injury, the ends of the bones that are injured may be protruding through the skin and exposed to the outside environment. Sometimes the bone ends have protruded through the skin, creating an open wound and then have withdrawn back inside the skin and no bone ends will be visible. With a joint injury, the joint may be locked in position and unmovable. Box 29-1 summarizes the signs and symptoms of a bone or joint injury.
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Crepitation (grating) Swelling Bruising (discoloration) Exposed bone ends (open injury) Joints locked into position
There is some terminology that you may hear associated with musculoskeletal trauma. Fractures occur when the bone is actually cracked or broken. Box 29-2 lists various types of fractures. Dislocations occur when the bone ends do not meet appropriately at a joint. Sprains are partial tearing of ligaments (tissues that connect bones to other bones). Strains are injuries to tendons (tissue that connects bones to muscles) or muscles due to overstretching. In the field, it is impossible to distinguish these various types of injuries from one another, and they all should be treated and splinted as though they are fractures. In the hospital, definitive tests will be performed to determine the specific type of injury and the appropriate treatment.
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ALERT!
Always care for life-threatening injuries before focusing on a painful, swollen, deformed extremity. Do not waste scene time on an extremity if the patient is not breathing adequately or has other threats to life! Splint the injury appropriately to prevent movement of bone ends or fragments (described later in this chapter), and prepare the patient for transport. During transport, a cold pack may be applied to the injured area to reduce swelling and pain. An injured extremity should be elevated to reduce blood flow to that area, unless other injuries are present and would cause complications. If elevating the extremity causes the patient more pain, do not elevate. Monitor the patient's vital signs en route to the receiving facility. Any changes in the patient's condition or vital signs should be reported to the receiving facility.
REVIEW QUESTIONS
INJURIES TO BONES AND JOINTS 1. A(n) _______ injury occurs when the force is transmitted from one body area injuring another body area. 1. indirect 2. The sound that is produced when bone ends grate together is called ________. 2. crepitation 3. To help determine the potential severity of a wound, you should consider the forces that were applied to the body, called the ________. 3. mechanism of injury
SPLINTING AN INJURY
The specialized emergency medical care provided for a painful, swollen, deformed extremity includes applying a splint to immobilize the injury and prevent further damage. This chapter describes various types of splints and how they are used.
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bones. Immobilization helps to prevent a closed injury from becoming an open injury. It also minimizes the restriction of blood flow resulting from bone ends compressing blood vessels and limits the bleeding caused by tissue damage from the bone ends. Splinting reduces pain by limiting the movement of bone ends. Paralysis resulting from spinal damage is also minimized. Box 29-3 summarizes the reasons for splinting.
PRINCIPLES OF SPLINTING
When caring for an extremity injury, always evaluate the pulse, motor function, and sensation distal to the injury both before and after applying a splint, and record the findings. It is important to know the circulatory and sensory status of the extremity before splinting. A splint that is placed improperly or secured too tightly may impede circulation. If there is a change in distal circulation, loosen the splint and reassess. If the circulation does not return, the extremity may need to be resplinted.
The bones and joints above and below an injury site must be immobilized with the splint to minimize muscle movement near the injury. For example, if the injury is to the forearm, the joint below (the wrist) and the joint above (the elbow) must be splinted. Before splinting, cut clothing away to expose the area and make the splint more effective. Open injuries should be dressed and bandaged before application of the splint. If there is a severe deformity or if the distal extremity is cyanotic or lacks a pulse, the injury should be aligned with gentle traction before splinting in an attempt to regain circulation. If resistance is felt, splint the extremity in the position in which you find it. If no pulse returns distal to the injury, rapid transport is indicated to prevent possible loss of the extremity. If any bones are protruding through the skin, do not try to replace them, although they may retract when the splint is applied. Splints should be padded to prevent pressure and discomfort to the patient. When splinting a hand or foot, immobilize it in the position of function. This is the most comfortable position for the hand or foot and requires the least amount of muscle use or stretching. This is the resting position for the hand or foot. For the hand, place a roll of gauze in the palm to support the hand, and for the foot, support the sole (Figs. 29-6 and 29-7).
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Splint the injury before transporting only if there are no life-threatening situations present. If life-threatening problems with the airway, breathing, or circulation are present, you can simply splint the extremity to the long backboard as you prepare the patient for transport. If you are in doubt whether to splint an injury, err on the side of caution and apply a splint. It is acceptable to splint an extremity that was not actually fractured, but it is unacceptable to fail to splint a fractured extremity. Without an X-ray, it is impossible to differentiate between a broken ankle and a sprain or strain; therefore, you should assume the ankle is broken. Do not waste time trying to identify the actual injury. See Principle 29-1 for the general rules of splinting.
Fig. 29-6 For a hand injury, place a roll of gauze in the palm to support and immobilize the hand in the position of function.
If the patient is showing the signs and symptoms of shock, align the patient in the normal anatomical position and transport using total body immobilization, including backboard and cervical collar. Do not waste time splinting each injury separately. Chapter 30 describes full-body immobilization.
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2. Immobilize the joint above and below the musculoskeletal injury. For a joint injury, immobilize the bone above and below the injury. 3. Remove or cut away clothing before splinting. 4. Cover open wounds with sterile dressings before splinting. 5. Splint the injury in the position found, unless there is severe deformity or the distal extremity is cyanotic or lacks a pulse. Then attempt to align the extremity with gentle traction before splinting. 6. Do not intentionally replace protruding bones, but note them in your prehospital care report. 7. Pad the splint to prevent pressure and discomfort to the patient. 8. Splint the injury before moving the patient unless there are life-threatening situations present. 9. If in doubt whether an injury is present, apply a splint. 10. If the patient has the signs and symptoms of shock, use full-body immobilization, align the patient in the normal anatomical position on a backboard, and transport.
Fig. 29-7 For a foot injury, support the sole and immobilize in the position of function.
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Fig. 29-8 Common types of splints include padded-board splints (top and right), ladder splints (middle), and cardboard splints (bottom).
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Fig. 29-9 Hare traction splint (left) and Sager splint (right).
traction. Do not use a traction splint if the injury is close to the knee; if the knee, hip, pelvis, lower leg, or ankle is injured; or if bone ends are protruding through the skin. Also, do not use the traction splint if there is partial amputation or avulsion with bone separation or if the distal limb is connected only by marginal tissue such as a thin piece of skin. Traction in such cases would risk separation. Technique 29-2 details the use of the Hare traction splint, one type of bipolar splint (Fig. 29-9). Other types of traction splints use different techniques. Consult the directions supplied with the device. Pneumatic splintssuch as vacuum splintsare flexible, conforming splints that are used commonly with angulated injuries. The air splint and pneumatic antishock garments (PASG) are other types of pneumatic splints that are used for nonangulated injuries (Fig. 29-10).
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2. Provide manual stabilization and support to the injured extremity and maintain gentle traction if indicated while applying the rigid splint. Measure the rigid splint to the extremity.
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3. Pad the open spaces between the splint and the extremity to place pressure evenly over the entire area of the extremity.
4. Secure the rigid splint to the extremity with cravats or roller gauze tied snugly. Tie the knots over the splint, not the skin, for comfort. Immobilize the joints above and below the injury site. Secure and immobilize the hand or foot in the position of function. Secure the entire injured extremity to the body. Repeat the assessment of pulse, motor function, and sensation distal to the injury.
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2. Apply manual traction to the injured area; this procedure is required when using a Hare traction splint. Prepare or adjust the splint to the proper length. Measure the splint on the uninjured leg with the ischial pad at the ischium, and the end of the splint 20 to 30 centimeters (8 to 12 inches) longer than the heel. Lock the splint in place.
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3. Open the support straps, position the splint under the injured leg.
4. Position the straps as shown. Apply the proximal securing device (ischial strap).
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5. Apply the distal securing device (ankle hitch). Apply mechanical traction by tightening the ankle hitch to the splint.
6. Position and secure the support straps. Reevaluate the proximal and distal securing devices to ensure tightness. Reassess the patient's pulse, motor function, and sensation distal to the injury site and record the findings. If these findings are diminished compared with those before splinting, adjust the tension of the traction being applied. Secure the patient's torso to the long backboard to immobilize the hip. Secure the splint to the long backboard to prevent movement of the extremity.
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The air splint is applied to the injured area and then inflated with air until snug. The air splint usually has a zipper and is used primarily for injuries below the elbow and the knee. The advantages of the air splint include pressure on bleeding areas, comfort to the patient, and uniform contact. The disadvantage of the air splint is that air may leak from the splint or the pressure may change with changes in temperature or altitude. Air splints are difficult to clean, and the method of inflation (blowing into a small tube) may compromise body substance isolation precautions. When using an air splint, cover all wounds with clean dressings before applying the splint. Place the injured
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Fig. 29-10 Vacuum splints (left) and air splints (right) are commonly used pneumatic splints.
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extremity within the splint, and inflate the splint by blowing into the valve (Fig. 29-11). The port for the air may be cleansed with an alcohol wipe prior to inflation. Some air splints may come with an adapter and a pump to inflate them with air. This process requires two rescuers, one to support the extremity and one to apply the splint. As when applying any splint, check patient pulse, motor function, and sensation distal to the injury before and after application. PASGs can also be used as immobilization devices. They are indicated for the emergency medical care of pelvic instability and long bone injuries of the legs with signs and symptoms of shock. They are usually applied by placing them open on a long backboard and moving the patient onto them by log roll or scoop stretcher. The appropriate compartments are then inflated. For example, if the patient has a painful, swollen, deformed left femur, the PASG is inflated in the leg compartment on the side of the injury to act as an air splint. If the patient has pelvic instability and the signs and symptoms of shock, all compartments are inflated to immobilize the
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Fig. 29-13 A pillow splint is an improvised splint that provides support for an injured ankle or foot.
lower half of the body. The PASG may be used as a splint on a lower-leg injury only if the ankle is securely immobilized as well. This is possible using a pillow splint applied over the end of the PASG and around the foot and secured. As always, check pulse, motor function, and sensation distal to the injury before and after applying the PASG as a splint. The appropriate uses of PASG remain controversial. Local protocols may differ and must be followed in the application of the PASG. The vacuum splint is wrapped around the injured area, and then the air is removed with a pump so that the splint conforms to the injured area (Fig. 29-12). The splint becomes very rigid and lacks the disadvantages of the air splint. Vacuum splints can be used with angulated injuries. Improvised splints, such as pillows, may be used to support joint injuries and are commonly used for ankle injuries. The pillow is wrapped completely around the ankle and secured. The toes are left visible so that assessment may be made of the pulse, motor function, and sensation (Fig. 29-13). Cardboard
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Fig. 29-14 A sling and swathe is a common splinting technique for a shoulder injury to prevent movement of the arm and shoulder.
splints may also be cut to form to an angle and then secured in place. The sling and swathe is the common splinting technique for a shoulder injury. The arm is placed into the sling and the swathe is wrapped around the arm and the body so that the arm and shoulder cannot move (Fig. 29-14). The sling and swathe may be used along with other types of splints for arm injuries. See Principle 29-2 for the proper method in splinting joint and bone injuries.
ALERT!
Always use properly sized splints. Some devices, such as PASG and traction splints, come in infant and child sizes. Familiarize yourself with all the available equipment provided on your ambulance and with local protocols.
RISKS OF SPLINTING
Using splints improperly can lead to complications. If they are not used correctly, they may cause more harm than benefit. A splint can compress nerves, tissues, and blood vessels; therefore, the pressure of the splint should be monitored continuously along with the pulse, motor function, and sensation distal to the injury. A splint applied too tightly on an extremity can reduce distal circulation. An improperly applied
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splint can increase bleeding and tissue damage associated with the injury, cause permanent nerve damage or disability, convert a closed injury to an open injury, or increase the pain caused by excessive movement.
ALERT!
Injuries to bones and joints require splinting prior to moving the patient unless life-threatening injuries are present. In this case, splinting should be done en route to the receiving facility if possible.
REVIEW QUESTIONS
SPLINTING AN INJURY 1. Before applying a splint, you should check ________, ________ and ________. 1. pulse, sensation, motor function 2. When splinting a hand or foot, you should immobilize them in the _________ _________ ________ to prevent further injury. 2. position of function 3. Traction splints are used for what type of injury?
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3. Isolated midshaft femur fracture without involvement of the knee or pelvis 4. A sling and swathe is used to ________ 4. immobilize shoulder or arm injuries 5. If you apply a splint and the distal pulse or sensation is decreased, you should __________ 5. loosen or reposition the splint
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Splints can be used to restrict movement and prevent further damage to the injured tissue. Never delay transport of a critical patient to splint an extremity.
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SPLINTING AN INJURY
Splinting a painful, swollen, deformed extremity prevents movement of bone fragments, bone ends, or injured joints; minimizes damage to muscles, nerves, and blood vessels; minimizes the risk of converting a closed injury to an open injury; minimizes the restriction of blood flow resulting from bone ends compressing blood vessels; minimizes excessive bleeding and pain from damaged tissue caused by bone ends or fragments; and minimizes the chance of paralysis of extremities caused by spinal damage. The principles of splinting include: assess the pulse, motor function, and sensation distal to the injury before and after splinting the injury; manually stabilize the joint or bone above and below the injury; remove or cut away clothing on the extremity before splinting the injury; and cover open wounds with clean dressings. Splint the extremity in the position found, unless there is severe deformity or the distal pulse is absent. In this case, use gentle traction to align the extremity before splinting. Do not intentionally replace protruding bones. Pad the splint to prevent pressure and discomfort to the patient. Splint the injury before moving unless life-threatening situations are present. If in doubt about splinting an injury, splint it. If the patient is in shock, use full-body immobilization, align in the normal anatomical position on the backboard, and transport. Rigid splints are nonformable, such as padded-board splints. Traction splints are indicated for a closed, painful, swollen deformity at the midthigh with no joint or lower-leg injury. Do not use a traction splint if the injury is close to the knee; if there is injury to the knee, hip, pelvis, lower leg, or ankle; or if the bone ends are protruding through the skin. Also do not use the traction splint if there is partial amputation or avulsion with bone separation or if the distal limb is connected only by marginal tissue. Pneumatic splints, such as vacuum splints, are flexible, conforming splints used commonly with angulated injuries. A PASG can be used as an immobilization device also. They are indicated in the emergency medical care of pelvic instability and long bone injuries of the femur with signs and symptoms of shock. The sling and swathe is the common splinting technique for the shoulder injury. The arm is placed into the sling, and the swathe is wrapped around the arm and the body so that the arm and shoulder cannot move. The sling and swathe can be used in conjunction with other splints for arm and elbow injuries. Because a splint might compress nerves, tissues, and blood vessels, the pressure of the splint should be checked continually along with the pulse, motor function, and sensation distal to the injury. Excessive movement may cause or aggravate tissue, nerve, vessel, or muscle damage. Do not delay treating or transporting a critical patient to splint.
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United States Department of Transportation National Highway Traffic Safety Administration EMT-Basic Objectives
Check your knowledge. The National Registry of EMTs and many state EMS agencies use the objectives below to develop EMT-Basic certification examinations. Can you meet them?
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Cognitive
1. Describe the function of the muscular system. 2. Describe the function of the skeletal system. 3. List the major bones or bone groupings of the spinal column; the thorax; the upper extremities; the lower extremities. 4. Differentiate between an open and a closed painful, swollen, deformed extremity. 5. State the reasons for splinting. 6. List the general rules of splinting. 7. List the complications of splinting. 8. List the emergency medical care for a patient with a painful, swollen, deformed extremity.
Affective
1. Explain the rationale for splinting at the scene versus load and go. 2. Explain the rationale for immobilization of the painful, swollen, deformed extremity.
Psychomotor
1. Demonstrate the emergency medical care of a patient with a painful, swollen, deformed extremity. 2. Demonstrate completing a prehospital care report for patients with musculoskeletal injuries.
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