Fractures and Dislocations

hellonotarealdr
Jun 9
2 min read

Updated: Jun 24

Fractures

A fracture is a crack or break in the bone. They are most common in the arms and feet, especially in the upper arm.

There are many types of fractures. The names for them refer to where they occur in the body (anterior, posterior, medial, lateral, etc) as well as the direction they take across a bone (spiral, transverse, etc).

Dislocation

Dislocation refers to a joint in the body being pushed out of its usual place, and it is most common in the shoulders, kneecaps, and fingers. There are two main types of dislocation:

Total dislocation - the bones in the joint are totally separated and out of place
Subluxation (partial dislocation) - the bones are still touching, just not as completely as they were before.

NEVER attempt to push a dislocated joint back into place on your own. This is extremely dangerous and can result in lifelong joint problems, nerve and blood vessel damage, as well as being severely painful.

Stretch!

A dislocated joint (especially shoulder or knee) can compress major nerves (e.g. brachial plexus) or arteries (e.g. axillary artery). This is a limb-threatening emergency if blood flow is restricted.

What you may see:

Swelling
Bruising
Difficulty moving the limb
Pain
Limb bent at odd angle (severe)
Bone puncturing the skin (severe)

What to do:

Try not to let the casualty* move around – this could aggravate* injuries.
Support the injured limb if possible and necessary.
- A dislocated/fractured finger may not need support, but a fractured arm could be supported by a cushion under it.
Try to arrange to go to the hospital without calling emergency services if the injury is not severe.

Summary:

Fractures are cracks or breaks in the bone. Dislocations are where the joint has been pushed out of place. You should never try to push a dislocated joint back in yourself. Some signs are bruising, swelling, and if the limb is bent at a strange angle.

Glossary:

Casualty: the person that's hurt in a first aid scenario.

Aggravate: make something worse.

For Older Learners:

Use these questions to challenge yourself!

Why might there be a higher risk of infection with compound fractures (where the bone pierces the skin)?
Would you prioritise a fracture or a dislocation? Why?
If someone's shoulder has been dislocated and they are complaining that their arm is now numb, what do you think has happened?