First aid for fractures of the limbs. Providing medical care for fractures First aid for fractures Basic principles for first aid for fractures

A fracture is a violation of the integrity of the bone, which, as a rule, is the result of some external influence or (less often) a change in the structure of the bone. Trauma is the cause of fracture in 95%.

What are fractures

According to the structure, it is customary to distinguish:

• complete fracture- the bone is completely refracted and divided into two parts;
• comminuted fracture- as a result of a fracture, several fragments are formed;
• incomplete fracture- damaged bone is not completely divided.

Depending on the fracture line, they say about transverse, longitudinal, helical, oblique, compression fractures. They can also be divided into closed and open. With a closed fracture, the skin and mucous membranes retain their integrity. With open fractures, the integrity of the skin is disturbed.

You should be aware that damage to blood vessels and nerves can accompany both closed and open fractures. A high probability of damage to blood vessels occurs with injuries of the extremities. Bones surrounded by a large number of muscles are displaced during a fracture.

External signs bone fracture will be:

• incorrect position of the limb;
• limb shortening - when compared with a healthy one;
• impaired movement in the injured limb.

The victim often experiences at the fracture site severe pain the degree of which depends on the integrity of the nerve fibers; with significant damage to the nerve bundles, loss of pain sensitivity may occur. Even if there are no visible signs of a fracture of the limb, but the victim experiences pain at rest, the likelihood of a fracture cannot be completely ruled out.

In addition to these symptoms, you may experience:

• bone mobility at the fracture point;
• crunch, which is created by bone fragments.

First aid for fractures of limbs

• Anesthesia

• immobilization

• Splint overlay

If there are no suitable items at hand that can be used as a splint, fix as follows:

• the upper limb is bandaged to the body;
• lower limb - to a healthy leg.

To ensure the immobility of the injured limb, be sure to fix at least two joints: one above the break point, the other below. If a fracture of the femur or femoral neck is suspected, the entire leg is fixed - all three joints.

Fractures of small bones

A fracture of the small bones of the foot is treated by applying a plaster or fixing bandage. With a fracture of the toes, you can do without a bandage - a broken toe is fixed to a healthy one and physical activity is limited.

What not to do with a limb injury

• sharply step on the injured leg;
• begin to check the mobility of the joints with sharp movements;
• after a hand injury, rotational movements in the shoulder joint should not be made - in addition to a fracture, you can earn a dislocation.

When a fracture is dangerous

What to do with an open fracture

Rib fractures: signs and first aid

First aid if you suspect a fracture of the ribs - the imposition of a tight bandage on the body. To do this, you can use a sheet or a strip of matter at least 1.5 meters long. At the deepest exhalation, tight bandaging is carried out, the edge of the canvas is firmly fixed.

Trauma or fractures of the pelvic bones

Main feature fracture of the pelvic bones - lack of mobility of the lower extremities. There may be a violation of the configuration and severe pain. This is a fairly complex fracture. Works here principle: do no harm.

First aid: lay the victim on a solid shield; put a roller or other object under bent knees - this is called the frog pose. Transport the victim optimally in the supine position. If there is no solid shield, transportation on a soft stretcher is allowed. In this case, the victim is placed on his stomach, head to one side.

Cranial trauma with the formation of a skull fracture

signs skull fracture:

• impaired consciousness, stupor, confused speech;
• visible bleeding;
• a symptom of "glasses" - bruising under both eyes.

If a skull fracture is suspected your actions:

• provide maximum peace to the victim;
• cold around the wound;
• fix the head;
• stop the bleeding;
• transport quickly to the hospital.

What to do if your nose is broken

What to do:

• tilt the victim's head forward and stop the bleeding; gauze swabs can be carefully placed in the nostrils;
• apply cold to the bridge of the nose;
• do not lay the patient on his back, since blood can enter the respiratory tract;
• control vital functions;
• call an ambulance or take the victim to the hospital.

What happens if you treat a fracture at home?

If the fracture is not treated properly, there may be complications:

• improper fusion of bone fragments;
• shortening and deformity of the limb;
• the formation of a false joint, which leads to disability.

Fracture - damage to the bone with a violation of its integrity. Traumatic fractures are divided into open (there is damage to the skin in the fracture area) and closed ( skin covering not violated).

With an open fracture, the injury is not in doubt. A closed fracture is not so obvious, especially if it is incomplete, when part of the diameter of the bone is broken, often in the form of a crack.

All fractures are characterized by:

• sharp pain with any movements and loads;
• change in the position and shape of the limb, its shortening;
• dysfunction of the limb (impossibility of habitual actions or abnormal mobility);
• swelling and bruising in the area of ​​the fracture.

First aid for fractures limbs largely determines the outcome of the injury: the speed of healing, the prevention of a number of complications (bleeding, displacement of fragments, shock) and has three goals:

• creating immobility of the bones in the fracture area (which prevents the displacement of fragments and damage to their edges of vessels, nerves and muscles);
• shock prevention;
• prompt delivery of the victim to a medical facility.

First aid for a closed fracture

If you can call an ambulance, then do it. Then ensure the immobility of the injured limb, for example, put it on a pillow and ensure peace. Put something cold on the suspected fracture zone. The victim himself can be given hot tea or an anesthetic to drink.

If you have to transport the victim yourself, then you must first put on a tire from any available materials (boards, skis, sticks, rods, umbrellas).

Any two solid objects are applied to the limb from opposite sides over clothing and securely, but not tight (so as not to disturb blood circulation) are fixed with a bandage or other suitable improvised materials (sash, belt, ribbon, rope).

It is necessary to fix two joints - above and below the fracture site. For example, in case of a fracture of the lower leg, the ankle and knee-joint s, and with a hip fracture - all joints of the leg.

If there was absolutely nothing at hand, then the injured limb should be bandaged to a healthy one (arm to the body, leg to the second leg).

Transportation of the victim with a broken leg is carried out in the prone position, it is desirable to raise the injured limb.

First aid for an open fracture

An open fracture is more dangerous than a closed one, since there is a possibility of infection of fragments.

If there is bleeding, it must be stopped. If the bleeding is insignificant, then it is enough to apply a pressure bandage. For heavy bleeding apply tourniquet, not forgetting to note the time of its imposition. If the transportation time takes more than 1.5-2 hours, then every 30 minutes the tourniquet must be loosened for 3-5 minutes.

The skin around the wound must be treated with an antiseptic (iodine, brilliant green). If it is absent, the wound should be covered with cotton cloth.

Now you should apply a splint, as in the case of a closed fracture, but avoiding the place where the bone fragments protrude and take the victim to a medical facility.

Do not try to set the bone and carry the victim without a splint!

A fracture is a complete or partial violation of the integrity of the bone under the action of a load exceeding its strength. It can appear both as a result of an injury, and against the background of various diseases in which the strength characteristics of bone tissue change.

Traumatic bone fractures are open and closed. With closed injuries, the skin remains intact, with open injuries, the integrity of the skin is violated, and contact of the fracture site with the environment occurs.

Signs and symptoms

If an open fracture is visible to the naked eye, then the definition of closed injuries is sometimes difficult. Especially if the bone is cracked or not completely broken.

There are a number of signs that indicate a fracture:

• a sharp pain syndrome at the time of injury and after it. The pain increases with any movements and loads;
• visual deformation and unnatural position of the limb, its shortening;
• pathological mobility - the inability to perform habitual movements or, on the contrary, mobility unusual for the limb;
• the appearance of edema, hematoma at the site of injury.

First aid for fractures largely determines their outcome and affects the rate of bone fusion, prevents the development of complications in the form of bleeding, displacement of bone fragments and damage to them by the sharp edges of blood vessels and nerves. Thanks to correct sequence actions can also prevent post-traumatic shock.

First aid has several goals:

• immobilization - the creation of immobility of the bones at the fracture site;
• stop bleeding, if any;
• antiseptic treatment of the wound, if any;
• quick and careful transportation of the victim to a medical facility.

closed type

The first step is to call an ambulance, then ensure the immobility of the damaged part of the body. If a limb is injured, it should be placed on a pillow. Cold should be applied to the injury site - for example, ice from the freezer or a bag of frozen food will do. Ice or a bag must be wrapped in a towel or cloth to prevent frostbite. An injured person may be given warm tea or an analgesic tablet to drink.

For self-transportation, you need to put a tire on any materials at hand - boards, cardboard, skis, ski poles. A temporary splint can even be made from an ordinary umbrella, especially if it is a simple folding one, and not an automatic one.

First aid for fractures consists of only three steps - immobilization, anesthesia and transportation

Two solid objects of a certain length are applied to the limb from both sides and bandaged tightly, but not tight, so as not to disrupt blood circulation. In the absence of a bandage or braid, the tire is tied with a belt, ribbon, rope or belt.

For proper fixation, it is necessary to immobilize two joints - above and below the fracture site. For example, if a person has broken his lower leg, the knee and ankle are immobilized (immobilized). A hip fracture requires fixation of all joints of the leg.

In case of an ankle fracture, only the ankle joint is fixed in a physiologically favorable position, when a right angle is formed between the foot and the lower leg.

As a last resort, when there are no suitable objects at hand, the broken leg is tied to a healthy leg, and the arm to the body.

Transportation of a patient with a broken leg is carried out in a prone position, the injured limb should ideally be on a raised platform.

open type

Emergency care for open fractures begins with stopping bleeding, if any. With a small blood loss, a pressure bandage is sufficient. Severe bleeding requires the use of a tourniquet, and you need to remember the time of its application. This is important in the case of a long journey, when the patient will have to be transported for more than an hour. Every half an hour, the tourniquet must be loosened for 4-5 minutes.

The skin around the wound is treated with an antiseptic - iodine or brilliant green. In the absence of any medication, the wound is simply covered with a clean cloth or bandage. Next, a splint is applied as in a closed fracture, but this is done carefully, bypassing the place with protruding bone fragments. The victim is taken to a hospital or emergency room.

What can not be done in case of a fracture: it is forbidden to independently “put the bone in place” and carry an injured person without a splint!

It is also worth noting that an open fracture is more dangerous than a closed one, since there is a risk of infection of the wound.

How to get help for a broken leg

First aid for a broken leg includes its immobilization with a splint, stopping bleeding and antiseptic treatment of the wound (if the fracture is open). A tourniquet, if necessary, is applied above the wound, which helps stop blood loss.

Severe pain can be relieved by taking an analgesic tablet or a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug such as Diclofenac or Ibuprofen.

Leg fractures are a common type of fracture and occur in people of all ages. The most common cause is a fall from a great height, swipe or road accidents. Athletes suffer fractures due to high physical exertion, children due to their mobility, and older people often experience such injuries as a result of a natural decrease in bone density.

To determine that the leg is broken, you can by the following symptoms:

• the shape of the limb has changed;
• when moving, a crunch is felt - crepitus - which can be heard or determined by touch;
• the leg is unnaturally arched or strongly overextended;
• with open injuries, fragments of bones are visible in the wound.

The pain syndrome increases with movements and axial load, so it is impossible to stand on the leg. Swelling develops gradually, bruising appears. With extensive injuries, traumatic shock is possible: at first, a person underestimates the severity of the injury, he is overexcited and pale, his heart rate quickens, breathing becomes intermittent.

Arterial pressure may increase, but more often it decreases. Gradually, the excitation is replaced by lethargy and lethargy, the volume of urine discharge decreases, thirst and dry mouth occur. In severe cases, fainting and impaired respiratory function are not ruled out.

How to get help for a hip injury

Elderly people are most often affected by this injury, which is associated with age-related changes bone tissue and structural features of this bone. The femur consists of a body, neck and head, and the thin neck is the weak link in this system. In most cases, it is she who breaks, much less often fractures occur in the region of the greater trochanter and condyles.

If the symptoms of an open fracture are almost always obvious, then closed injuries can be difficult to recognize. Pay attention to the following manifestations:

• severe pain in the thigh, increasing when trying to bend or lift the leg up;
• moving a limb is very difficult or completely impossible;
• the leg has become visually shorter, its shape is unnatural;
• pathological mobility is observed in the thigh area;
• the color of the skin of the lower parts of the leg has changed, and sensitivity has decreased;
• edema and/or hematoma rapidly increases at the site of injury.

Hip fracture is a serious injury that often leads to complications. In this area there are many large vessels and nerve trunks, damage to which can lead to massive bleeding, impaired motor ability and reduced sensitivity.

In addition, the femur belongs to the long tubular bones, in the center of which is the yellow bone marrow. Violation of its integrity is fraught with the ingress of fat particles into the bloodstream, which, in turn, can result in blockage (embolism) of the pulmonary artery.

In some cases, ischemic stroke or myocardial infarction develops. With a massive fat embolism, there is a high risk of death, so it is very important to perform the necessary first aid measures on time.

Immobilization in case of a hip fracture is best done using the Dieterichs bus, however, it is allowed to use improvised materials and fix the leg with planks from two opposite sides.

The Dieterichs tire is the most convenient device for immobilizing the leg in case of a hip fracture

If you have to carry the victim far, it is advisable to add a third tire (semi-rigid can be used).

It is necessary to immobilize all three joints - the hip, knee and ankle. The tire must not be allowed to be in the area of ​​​​the wound and protruding bones. And a few more rules:

• you can not walk and even lean on the affected limb;
• you can not tightly tie the tire so as not to disturb the blood supply and innervation. It is very important to periodically check whether the color of the leg has changed, whether there is numbness, and, if necessary, loosen the bandage;
• you can not fix the tire too weakly, there should be no mobility in the joints;
• the foot should be immobilized in a position at right angles to the lower leg, otherwise it will sag, which can cause displacement of bone fragments;
• a soft pad should be placed under the tire to prevent the formation of bedsores, especially in the joint area;
• it is forbidden to pull and pull the leg, thus “setting” the broken bone.

WARNING: it is very important for those who provide first aid to remain calm and composure.

How to help with a broken arm

First aid (PMP) for an injury to the upper limb is almost the same as that for injuries to the legs. The most important thing is to immobilize the hand correctly and quickly, as delay can turn a closed fracture into an open one.

The method of immobilization of the hand is described above - wooden planks or pieces of long plywood are attached to it from both sides. If the accident occurred in a private house, tree branches can be taken for tires.

When the humerus is fractured, one plank is placed along the shoulder, and the other is placed parallel to the forearm. The limb is fixed in a position bent at a right angle, for which a kerchief bandage is used.

It is very simple to make a bandage-kerchief: any fabric is folded in half diagonally and wrapped around her forearm. The hand is in front of chest and bent at the elbow at a right angle. Next, the ends of the scarf are wound around the neck and tied. To prevent displacement of bone fragments, the edges of the bandage should be tied tighter.

REFERENCE: transportation of the victim with a broken arm is carried out in a sitting position.

The prevalence of shoulder fractures is approximately 7% of the total number of injuries, that is, the humerus fractures quite often. Such an injury is accompanied by sharp pain, swelling and a clear shortening of the arm. Movements are limited, if the nerve trunks are damaged, it is impossible to move your fingers or clench your hand into a fist.

Bandages are a universal method of immobilizing injured hands.

In the presence of fragments, you can hear the grinding of bone fragments. A fracture of the shoulder can be complicated by bleeding into the joint: if the bone is broken closer to the elbow, then blood accumulates in the elbow joint. In case of violation of the integrity of the bone in the proximal section, the blood is poured into the shoulder joint.

We must not forget about the moral state of the patient. It should, if possible, calm him down, give him an anesthetic tablet, and if necessary, offer Valocordin or Cordiamin.

REFERENCE: Cordiamin is an analeptic (from the Greek analeptikos - restoring), which will be useful if the victim has signs of post-traumatic shock.

In case of fractures of the arm and shoulder, it is forbidden to pull or pull on the arm, trying to put the bones in their original position.

What to do if the spine is broken

Such injuries are among the most severe and can pose a threat to the life of the victim. It is necessary to immobilize the body as soon as possible and fix it in one position.

If it turned out that the spine is broken, the sequence of actions will be as follows:

• A person is carefully lifted and transferred to any hard surface - a bed, a couch, a flat floor. This should be done by several people, preferably three or four. The coordination of the actions of the assistants is very important, jerks and sudden movements are not allowed.
• The patient lies on his back, he is tied with straps, ropes or bandages to avoid displacement of bone fragments.
• A person should be placed on a stretcher face down, that is, on his stomach, but if a neck fracture is suspected, he is left lying on his back.
• If there are signs of a fracture of the pelvic bones, the legs are placed apart, like a frog.

REFERENCE: without urgent need, you can not transfer and shift a person. These functions should be entrusted to physicians. The exception is in emergency cases when leaving the injury in place is life threatening - for example, in case of fire or earthquake.

In case of fractures of the cervical vertebrae, a tight and high collar must be made to fix the neck. For this, a thick towel, gauze or cloth is suitable, in which cotton wool is wrapped with a layer of 2-3 cm. The width of the collar should correspond to the height of the neck. To secure it, you can use Velcro, paper clips, clips, etc.

Transportation of a victim with a fracture of the cervical vertebrae is a very responsible event, which requires at least 3 people

If a person is lying on his back, the collar cannot be put on, since it cannot be moved. In this case, a towel or other fabric folded in several layers is placed under the back of the head. Then two rollers are also twisted from a towel or gauze and placed on the sides of the head. To prevent them from moving out, you can put books or other heavy objects next to the rollers.

The most important

Often, eyewitnesses of the incident do not have special knowledge, therefore, when providing first aid, they make gross mistakes. Incorrect actions can prolong recovery time, and in the worst case, cost the victim his life.

In case of fractures of limbs and other parts of the body, it is impossible:

• feed or water a person, with the exception of cases of prevention of traumatic shock;
• try to straighten an arm or leg forcibly;
• with an open fracture, remove fragments from the wound;
• without the urgent need to move an injured person or change the position of a broken body part;
• pour iodine, brilliant green and other antiseptics directly into the wound: they can cause pain shock;
• use dirty dressings.

The arriving medical team should be informed about measures to prevent pain shock. Information about the pain medications or alcohol taken by the patient can be helpful if general anesthesia is required for subsequent treatment.

Bone tissue is second in strength only to tooth enamel, 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 safety, but with a certain force of impact, any of them can break.

A bone fracture is a complete or partial violation of its integrity, which 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 a violation of the structure of bone tissue.

Causes of fractures

Of course, the main reason for the violation of the anatomy of the bone is an injury received during 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.

In some diseases, bone strength is reduced and pathological fractures can occur due to minor injuries, weak blows, and sometimes even just with muscle tension or normal movement. This pathology can occur when oncological diseases 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, it 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 a lot of small fragments are determined on the radiograph, then it is called comminuted. A comminuted fracture of the vertebrae is called a compression fracture, since it often occurs as a result of a sharp 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 and open wound);
• open (soft tissues are damaged and the wound is open).

Diagnosis of a bone fracture

This diagnosis is often made on the basis of clinical signs, but is always confirmed radiologically. X-ray is mandatory 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 establish the position of the damaged bones and the presence of fragments.

Relative signs of a fracture

• Sharp pain at the site of injury, aggravated by movement, load and any manipulation, if small bones are damaged, pain may be the only symptom in the victim.
• Violation of the function, if we are talking about a limb (limitation of mobility, the victim keeps it in a forced position).
• Swelling at the site of injury appears some time after the injury.
• Hematoma - also does not form immediately, however, with massive bleeding, it quickly increases in volume.

Absolute signs of a fracture

• Change in the shape of the limb;
• in the proposed 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 fractures of limbs

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

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

Stop bleeding

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

Immobilization

The injured limb must be immobilized. In no case should you try to straighten, set or perform any other manipulations with a limb if there is a suspicion of a bone fracture. Before applying the splint, it is not necessary to remove clothing from the person, it is applied directly to the sleeve or leg. For immobilization, you can use any hard, even objects (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 injury site.

If there is a suspicion of damage to the bones of the leg, then the diseased limb can be tightly bandaged to a healthy one, which in this case will act as a splint. In case of damage to the bones of the lower leg or thigh, two splints are applied - on the outer and inner surfaces 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 the knee joint and ankle.

In case of a fracture of the upper limb, the victim's arm is bent at the elbow joint, a splint is also applied on both sides, the limb is hung on a scarf in a bent state (flexion angle 90 degrees). A roller can be placed in the armpit.

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

Anesthesia

If an anesthetic is at hand, then you need to give it to the victim. Ice can be applied to the injury site, a bottle of cold water or a special cooling package. If transportation to a medical facility is not possible and waiting for special transport is required, the patient must be warmed up by covering with a blanket, clothes, etc. If there is no suspicion of an injury to the internal organs, you can give the victim 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 other antiseptic (non-alcoholic) solution. The skin around the wound can be lubricated with alcohol or a solution, which should not fall into the wound itself. A non-tight sterile bandage should be applied to the site of visible damage to the skin.

First aid for spinal injury

Characteristic signs of damage to the spine are a sharp pain at the site of violation of the integrity of the vertebrae, difficulty or cessation of breathing, numbness, weakness or paralysis of the limbs, involuntary urination and defecation. It is possible to transport and generally move such a victim on your own only in a hopeless situation, when there is no way to wait for qualified help.

You can not try to plant or put him on his feet, turn him over on his side or stomach. It is necessary to lay the victim on a firm flat surface, the length of which should exceed his height (door, piece of plywood, shield, etc.) It is impossible to 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 impromptu stretcher, it is necessary to firmly fix him on them by any improvised means (bandages, belts, ropes, etc.). It is advisable to put a small dense roller under the neck. If there is a suspicion of damage to the vertebrae of the cervical region, then such a roller must be completely wrapped around the neck.

A broken arm is the most common accident that can occur both at home and on vacation, in nature. No one is immune from this event, especially children. Therefore, it is very important for every person to know the basics of first aid for a broken hand, so that in emergency help yourself and others before going to the doctor. First aid for hand fractures is a series of simple actions that anyone can handle. The main thing at the same time is not to get confused and start acting immediately.

Hand fracture symptoms

The cause of damage to the bones of the hand can be a mechanical impact from a blow, a fall from a height, getting into an accident, strong physical exercise. Children often break bones due to hyperactivity, and in older people, they are weakened and prone to fractures. If one of these situations occurs, the risk of fracture of the bones of the hands is high. To distinguish a broken arm from a severe bruise, dislocation or sprain, you should know the symptoms:

• A clear sign is the unnatural position of the affected part of the hand.
• Excessive joint mobility
• Crunch on palpation or movement
• An open fracture is easily diagnosed by characteristics- visual observation of a broken bone, rupture of soft tissues and bleeding.
• sharp strong pain extending to neighboring organs. A clear symptom is a sharp pain along the hand, which occurs if the victim is slightly pulled by the hand.
• Severe swelling
• In the affected limb, the temperature is lower than that of the whole body.
• Bleeding under the skin (hematoma)
• The arm may become a little shorter than the second
• The joint is limited in movement, if the nerve is damaged, immobilization of the limb is observed.

A closed fracture differs from an open one by the integrity of the tissues, while with an open fracture, the skin, muscle tissue is damaged by bone fragments or external mechanical action. Both types of damage happen with and without displacement of bone fragments. According to the number of broken bones, the fracture can be isolated, i.e. concentrated in any one place, for example, the forearm, or multiple, when the damage affects several places at once (for example, the forearm and hand). In any case, judging by the symptoms, first aid should be provided for a broken arm to the victim, and you also need to help him get to qualified traumatologists or surgeons. Already in the hospital, an accurate diagnosis will be made using an X-ray machine, as well as the necessary manipulations with the affected part of the body. If first aid is not provided to the victim, especially with complicated fractures, there is a risk of blood poisoning, bleeding, tissue inflammation, and the spread of infection.

Closed fracture of the arm: first aid

If there is a suspicion of a closed fracture, first of all, it is necessary to completely immobilize the limb. If the hand is not immobilized in time, a closed fracture can turn into an open one. Immobilization is carried out by applying a splint, which can be used as any materials at hand: a board, a ski pole, plywood, a thick branch. The splint is fixed to the arm, keeping it immobile to reduce pain and prevent displacement. In no case should you pull the limb, trying to set the bones. To properly apply a tire, you need to know the features of this process:

• At least two joints are fixed with a splint to prevent displacement of bone fragments.
• The size of the splint must match the size of the limb, but not smaller, in order to securely fix it.
• The splint is placed over clothing, so it must be cut but not removed.

It is more convenient to apply the tire together, when one holds the limb, protecting it from displacement, and the other fixes it. Instead of a bandage, you can use any dressing, down to the rope.

In addition to applying a splint to the limb, the victim must be given pain medication so that traumatic shock does not occur.

Until severe swelling occurs, all jewelry must be removed from the hand. If they are no longer removed, it is worth entrusting this matter to doctors who will carefully cut off the jewelry from the fingers or hand.

A splint is usually applied to a closed fracture, but if the injury occurs in the elbow or shoulder joint, a suspension bandage is made for the limb, the arm is bent at the elbow. At the same time, a soft roller is inserted into the armpit, fixed with a bandage. The arm is retracted to the side and bent at a right angle at the elbow. A Cramer's wire splint one meter long is superimposed on the bent limb, for the entire length from the shoulder to the fingers. From above, the tire is lined with cotton wool, bandages, tightly bandaged. The arm is attached to the body.

First aid for an open fracture of the arm

First aid for an open fracture consists in stopping bleeding, preventing infection from entering the bloodstream, disinfecting surrounding tissues, anesthesia, preventing the occurrence of pain shock, and immobilizing the injured limb.

To stop the bleeding, it is necessary to apply a tourniquet over the injury site at a distance of 10-15 cm. Instead of a tourniquet, you can use a regular belt. It is especially important to stop the blood as soon as possible if it is bright scarlet in color - this indicates arterial bleeding. An hour and a half after applying the tourniquet, it is necessary to loosen it so that the necrosis of the tissue cells of the limb does not begin. Next, wash the open wound with hydrogen peroxide and clean water to disinfect the wound and prevent inflammation. The edges of the wound can be treated with iodine, brilliant green or any alcohol-containing liquid. If the bleeding from the wound is venous, it can not be pulled with a tourniquet, but it is enough to apply a tight bandage.

After stopping the bleeding, the victim needs to take painkillers, as in the case of a closed fracture. With an open fracture, a person's body temperature may rise. If it occurs within the first 24 hours after the injury, the victim should urgently seek medical attention. If it appeared after two or three days, it is enough to take anti-inflammatory drugs and analgesics.

After the measures taken, the broken arm is fixed with a splint. It is applied on the opposite side of the protruding bone; before fixing, something soft must be placed on the protruding part of the bone.

First aid for a broken hand

The hand is the easiest to break because it is the most fragile part of the upper limb. In this case, fractures are classified as damage to the metacarpal bones, wrist, one or more phalanges of the fingers. First aid for a fracture of the hand is as follows:

1. Immediately remove all rings from the fingers to avoid tissue necrosis.
2. Attach an ice pack or other coolant wrapped in a cloth.
3. If open bleeding is present, a tight bandage should be applied.
4. The brush turns into a bandage, which is thrown over the shoulder and around the neck. The immobility does not allow the bones to move.
5. The victim should be given pain medication.

After carrying out these measures, the victim is tedious to deliver to the nearest emergency room. He must ride sitting, holding the damaged hand with his healthy hand so that it does not move during the movement.