Many different types of injuries can occur to the muscles and skeletal system. The body is composed of 206 bones, 6 types of joints and more than 600 muscles. While injuries to muscles, joints and bones are common, they do not have to be difficult to care for and usually, they pose no threat to life.
Bones and muscles are connected and unlike machines, the body has no bolts holding it together. Bones are connected to other bones by ligaments. Muscles are connected to bones by tendons. There are three types of muscles:
Tendons – connect muscle to bone
Ligaments – connect bone to bone
Many people have said that it is better to break a bone, than to have a bad sprain. In actual fact, a fractured bone is easier to care for, more predictable in healing and you have fewer long-term problems. Whereas, ligaments and tendons build scar tissue and usually will cause some type of pain or difficulty for the rest of your life.
Types of Injuries:
• Sprain
• Strain
• Fracture
• Dislocation
The two main types of fractures that you need to identify are open or closed fractures. In a pre-hospital, pre-advance life support environment, all that you need to do is protect a fracture site and prevent further injury.
Treatment:
Please remember: “If you are not sure if the injury is a fracture – splint and protect it – until the injury has been x-rayed and evaluated by a doctor”.
Closed Fracture: immobilize the joint above and below the site of fracture by applying a splint made of rigid materials (i.e. sticks) securing it to the limb with tape, cloth ties or ace wrap bandages.
Open Fracture: If you do encounter an open fracture, control the bleeding first and splint the extremity in the position you found it.