How to Assess for a Fracture During First Aid

Broken bones are not only painful but dangerous, especially in the backcountry when professional medical help is far away. Before treating a fracture, assess it using this technique.

Difficulty: Moderately challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Scissors
• Scissors

1. Get a look at the injury: Look for discoloration, swelling, ease of movement, "joints" where there shouldn't be any, and differences from the equivalent (uninjured) body part on the other side of the person's body. These are signs of a fracture.

2. Ask the injured person how the injury occurred, how badly it hurts, and if he or she thinks it's broken. The higher the impact and the worse it hurts, the more likely it is that there's a fracture.

3. Feel the area gently: Does the injured person react sensitively to your touch? Note if the pain is especially acute in one very small area (called "point tenderness"). Does it feel unstable? Are the surrounding muscles spasmodic? If so, there may be a fracture.

Tips & Warnings

• Be extremely careful and gentle when touching the injured area. Fractures are very painful and can be made worse if handled carelessly.
• Check also for circulation, sensation and motion in the area beyond the injury: Loss of any of these indicates abnormal blood flow, which is a potentially serious complication of a fracture.
• This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment.

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on 8/9/2008 http://www.ehow.com/how_4476887_properly-use-crutches.html