Musculoskeletal Injuries

Question 1

What is meant by a closed vs open bone fracture?

Answer 1

Closed the skin is intact. Open the skin is broken and bone is exposed to air

Question 2

What are the symptoms of fractures and dislocations?

Answer 2

Point pain or tenderness; grinding sound of bone on bone; swelling; discoloration; deformity along the bone; loss of function or range of motion; altered CSM

Question 3

What do you always assess if you suspect a fracture or dislocation?

Answer 3

CSM downstream from injury

Question 4

What types of dislocations are generally safe to reduce in the wilderness?

Which ones should be immobilized and evacuated?

Answer 4

shoulder, patella, finger or toe

complicated joints (elbow, knees wrist, ankle, hip)

Question 5

What are the evacuation guidelines for fractures and dislocations?

Answer 5

loss of function; unreducible dislocation; first time dislocation and open fractures; alteration in CSM

Question 6

What are the signs of athletic injuries (sprains)?

Answer 6

swelling; discoloration; pain; tenderness; instability; loss of range of motion; inability to bear weight

Serious strain/possible fracture: severe pain, immediate swelling, sound of pop at time of injury

Question 7

What are the signs of athletic injuries (sprains)?

What’s the general treatment for these?

Answer 7

swelling; discoloration; pain; tenderness; instability; loss of range of motion; inability to bear weight

Serious strain/possible fracture: severe pain, immediate swelling, sound of pop at time of injury

R)est
I)ce
C)ompress
E)levate

Question 8

When would you evacuate an athletic injury?

Answer 8

Based on practical consideration; continued pain; not healing; and inability to travel