Bones, Joints and Muscle injuries.

[Kvet Forum]

Patients that have suffered trauma may have evidence of fractures, or of muscle or joint injury.

Several general points to consider when dealing with emergencies with fractures or other limb injuries are as follows.

• Prevent/reduce haemorrhage:
  • If there is an open fracture, dress the wound appropriately until definitive treatment can be started.
• Prevent the patient from doing any more damage to itself:
  • Prevent movement.
  • Confine patient to small kennel.
  • Prevent patient licking or interfering with injury – Elizabethan collar may be necessaru.
  • Dress any wounds to prevent further contamination.
• Immobilize the fracture.
• Analgesia:
  • Fractures cause considerable pain not only from fractured ends of bone but from haemorrhage (causing contusions) and tissue/muscle damage.
  • An unstable fracture will cause severe pain; the pain will not be fully controlled until the fracture is stabilized.
  • Manage the pain by administering appropriate analgesics.
• Ensure that other patient comforts are met (e.g. use padded bed and make sure patient is kept warm).