A fracture occurs when the bone becomes cracked or broken at one point, or even at different points. The intensity of the fracture is contingent on the breaking point and severity of the injury.
Signs of fractures
Some people get severe fractures in which bones jut out at odd angles, making it apparent that there has been a serious injury.
While bleeding can also result from a fracture, it is many times, not the case. Moreover, fractures also lead to intense pain in the area. Bruising and swelling from the fracture are also common.
Visual signs of fracture also include deformation. However, in some people, the signs of fracture are subtle, and it is not until one gets an X ray in Lahore that a case of broken bone is established.
First-aid steps for fracture
It is important to know the first-aid protocols for when accosted with a broken bone. Following are some pertinent steps to be followed:
Stop the bleeding: It is important to curb the bleeding immediately in the aftermath of a fracture. Put a sterile bandage or a clean piece of clothing to stop the bleeding. Apply gentle pressure at the site of the injury to control blood flow.
Immobilize the injured area: Movement can further harm the injury, which is why being immobile is important.
Moreover, it is also vital that you do not try to realign the bones or push at the bone that is sticking out. Do so only if you have received professional training for setting bones, and the medical help is not readily available.
You can use a splint to support the site of fracture but be careful about providing sufficient padding in the area.
Ice the area: Fracture can result in swelling, and icing helps in reducing the swelling and the resultant pain. If an ice pack is not available, then you can wrap ice in a cloth and apply to the injured area.
Shock treatment: Fractures can cause people to go into shock. Thus, it is important to help people get out of this state. Symptoms of shock include rapid and short breaths.
So, help them get into a more comfortable position. Cover them with a blanket to make them comfortable and warm. Lay them down, if possible, in a position with head and legs slightly raised then the rest of the body.
Do not administer fluid or food: Since some patients might need to be rushed into surgery for the treatment of the fracture, it is important that they not be given anything to drink or eat. General anesthesia is administered on empty stomach, and any dietary intake might not bode well for the patients then.
Urgent medical help: In certain circumstances, it is pertinent that urgent medical care is given to the people. If the bleeding is very heavy, or if the person loses consciousness, they need to be overseen by a medical expert.
Similarly, deformation of the bones, extreme pain with slight movement, lack of responsiveness in the patient are also alarming signs.
People who have sustained fractures in their neck, head, or back also need to be kept immobile and should only be overseen by paramedics or doctors.
Once at the hospital
Even though bones are on their own, assistance is needed in putting them back into place. In certain cases, the doctor can easily set the bones, with local anesthesia to help with the pain. This is then followed by plastering the bones, to keep them still during the healing process.
However, some bones are set with aides like screws, etc., which require an operation. Your doctor, with the aid of X ray in Karachi, will accordingly determine the treatment route for the fracture.
