How to tell if a fall has caused a bone fracture without taking an x-ray

2024 Author: Samantha Chapman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 09:13

When a bone breaks or cracks it is called a fracture. This injury can occur when the bone is subjected to considerable force due to a minor accident, such as a fall from a swing or tripping, or a serious event such as a car crash. Bone fractures must be examined and treated by medical professionals to reduce the risk of potential side effects and increase the chances of a full functional recovery. Although these are rather common accidents in children, as well as in adults suffering from osteoporosis, in Italy every year about 230,000 people of all ages break a bone.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Assessing the Immediate Situation

Tell if a Fall Broke Bones Without an X Ray Step 1

Step 1. Ask what happened

Regardless of whether the injured person is you or another individual, try to understand what happened right before the pain. If you are helping someone, ask them to describe what they did before the accident. Most bone fractures occur when force is applied so intense that the bone breaks or breaks completely. Understanding the cause of the injury helps determine whether or not a fracture is likely.

Tripping or falling generates enough impact force to cause bone breakage, as does a car accident or a direct blow to the bone, such as during a sporting event.
A bone can also break as a result of an act of violence (including abuse) or repetitive overload, such as during running.

Tell if a Fall Broke Bones Without an X Ray Step 2

Step 2. Assess if help is needed

Knowing the cause of the accident not only helps to understand if there is any broken bone, but can be useful in defining whether or not it is appropriate to seek medical attention. You must call the ambulance (118) or the police in case of a car accident or child abuse.

If you have the impression that there is no fracture (for example it could be just a sprain, which occurs when the ligaments are over-stretched or even torn), but despite this the victim is complaining a lot of pain, you should call the emergency services (118); alternatively, you can offer to take her to the nearest hospital if the injury and / or pain does not require immediate medical attention (for example, she does not bleed much and the person can still speak, even in a lucid manner).
If the victim is unconscious, unable to communicate with you or mumbles nonsense, call the ambulance immediately, as he may have suffered some head injury. Read the second part of the article for more details on this.

Tell if a Fall Broke Bones Without an X Ray Step 3

Step 3. Find out what he felt or felt during the accident

If you are the injured person, try to remember it or ask the injured person what they felt or experienced at the time of the fall. People who break a bone often report that they have heard or "felt" a snap in the affected area. Therefore, if the victim reports this sensation or sound to you, there is a good chance that the bone has broken.

People may also describe an irritating sensation or sound (such as pieces of bone rubbing together) when moving the injured area, even if they are not experiencing immediate pain. This phenomenon is called crepitus

Tell if a Fall Broke Bones Without an X Ray Step 4

Step 4. Learn about the pain

In the event of a bone fracture, the body reacts immediately with the sensation of pain. Both the bone itself and the injury to surrounding tissues (such as muscles, ligaments, nerves, blood vessels, cartilage, and tendons) cause pain. You need to pay attention to three types of suffering:

Sharp pain: This is a growing and intense sensation that usually occurs after the fracture. If you or another person is in extreme pain, it could be a sign of a broken bone.
Subacute pain: occurs in the first weeks after the fracture, especially during convalescence. The main causes are muscle stiffness and weakness resulting from the lack of movement needed to heal from the injury (for example, wearing a cast or brace).
Chronic pain: the sensation of pain continues even after the bone and surrounding tissues have healed; it can last several weeks or months after the accident.
Keep in mind that it is possible to suffer from one or all of these types of pain. Some people experience acute and subacute pain, but not chronic pain; while others may be injured without experiencing any or minimal pain, as in the case of fractures to the little finger or spine.

Tell if a Fall Broke Bones Without an X Ray Step 5

Step 5. Look for other symptoms of bone fracture

You may notice several signs that indicate it, including:

Deformity in the affected area and movements in unnatural directions;
Hematoma, internal bleeding, or a large bruise
Difficulty moving the affected area;
The area appears shorter, twisted or folded,
Loss of strength in the affected area;
Loss of normal functions of the area;
Shock;
Noticeable swelling;
Numbness or tingling in or around the area of the suspected fracture.

Tell if a Fall Broke Bones Without an X Ray Step 6

Step 6. Look for other symptoms if you don't notice any visible signs

In the case of small fractures, sometimes no deformities are seen or there may be only minimal swelling that is not easily identifiable. You must therefore do a more accurate analysis to understand if it is actually this kind of trauma.

A bone fracture often leads the victim to behave differently. For example, he may avoid putting weight or pressure on the affected area. This is a sign of some problem, even if no fracture is noticeable with the naked eye.
Consider the following three examples: A broken ankle or leg bone often causes enough pain to prevent the victim from putting weight on the limb; a fracture of the arm or hand can create enough pain to cause the person to protect the limb by not using it; pain in a broken rib prevents the person from taking deep breaths.

Tell if a Fall Broke Bones Without an X Ray Step 7

Step 7. Examine the pain points

A broken bone is often identified as a sore spot, which means that there is very intense pain in a specific area when pressure is applied, as opposed to generalized pain of an entire area. In other words, the pain reaches its maximum level when pressure is applied near the broken bone. When this sore spot occurs, there is a high chance that there is indeed a fracture.

When you experience generalized pain with palpation (a gentle pressure or stimulus) over an area as wide as three fingers, it is more likely that it is an injury to a ligament, tendon, or other tissue.
Remember that immediate bruising and severe swelling are more likely to indicate damaged tissue than a broken bone.

Tell if a Fall Broke Bones Without an X Ray Step 8

Step 8. Be especially cautious if you are handling a child and are concerned that they have fractures

Take the following into consideration when determining whether a child under 12 has experienced this type of trauma. In general, if a bone break is suspected, it is advisable to take the child to the emergency room to obtain a formal diagnosis, as this could affect his musculoskeletal development. In this way, the child can also receive immediate and adequate medical care.

Younger children are usually unable to locate specific pain points or sore spots. They have a more generalized neurological response to pain than adults.
It is difficult for young patients to quantify the suffering they experience.
Pain from a fracture is very different in children, due to the flexibility of their bones. Bone is more likely to bend or tear partially than it will break.
You are the person who knows the child best; If his behavior suggests that he is in much more pain than you might expect from an injury, take him to the pediatrician for a visit right away.

Part 2 of 3: Providing Immediate Care

Tell if a Fall Broke Bones Without an X Ray Step 9

Step 1. As a general rule, you should never move an injured person

In the event of a bone fracture due to a serious fall or car accident, you should only move it if there is imminent danger. Do not attempt to realign the bone or move the person if the victim is unable to move on their own; this way you avoid further damage.

Never move an individual who has sustained an injury to the hips or pelvis; this type of fracture can cause severe internal bleeding in the pelvic cavity. In such circumstances you should call the emergency services as soon as possible and wait for the ambulance to arrive. However, if the victim with this type of injury absolutely needs to be transported without the intervention of medical personnel, place a pillow or roll between his legs and secure them together. Put the person on a board to stabilize him, rolling him like a rigid body. Keep your shoulders, hips and feet aligned and rotate them simultaneously, while someone slides the board under their hips. The axis must support the body from the center of the back to the knees.
Do not move the victim if there is a risk of a back, neck or head fracture. Immobilize her in the position you found her and call the ambulance immediately. Don't try to straighten her back or neck. Notify the emergency service if you are concerned that you have a head, spinal or cervical injury and motivate your concern. Moving the person could lead to severe long-term damage, including paralysis.

Tell if a Fall Broke Bones Without an X Ray Step 10

Step 2. Check for any bleeding

Take care of wounds before dealing with a broken bone. If a bone protrudes from the skin, you shouldn't touch it or try to put it back into the body. The bone is usually gray or light beige in color, not white like Halloween pictures, and the skeletons in doctor's offices might lead you to think.

If you see severe bleeding, you should always deal with it before the fracture

Tell if a Fall Broke Bones Without an X Ray Step 11

Step 3. Immobilize the area

Only take care of the fracture if help doesn't arrive immediately. If you know that medical personnel are arriving quickly or are taking the victim to the emergency room, splinting the area can do more harm than good. However, if immediate medical attention is not possible, you can help stabilize the bone and relieve pain by following the guidelines outlined below.

Splint the broken arm or leg to provide support. Do not attempt to realign the bone. To make a cue you can use the material you have available or that you find nearby. Look for something stiff, like a board, a stick, a rolled-up newspaper, and so on. If the injured body part is small enough, such as the little finger of a hand or foot, you can bandage it with an adjacent area, such as a healthy toe, to provide more stability.
Stuff the splint with clothes, towels, blankets, pillows, or whatever soft material is available.
Have the padded splint block the joints downstream and upstream of the injury. For example, if the fracture involves the tibia, you must also immobilize the ankle and knee. By the same token, if a joint is broken, the splint must cover both adjacent bones.
Attach the splint to the body part. You can use a belt, rope, shoelace, or any tall object that is useful for the purpose. Be careful when tying the splint to avoid further damage to the victim. Pad the craft device well so it doesn't put unnecessary pressure on the fracture, but holds the limb in place.

Tell if a Fall Broke Bones Without an X Ray Step 12

Step 4. Make a shoulder strap for your broken arm or hand

This way, you provide support and prevent your muscles from straining. Use a one-meter square piece of fabric, which you can cut out of a pillowcase, sheet, or other larger sheet. Fold it to get a triangle; one end must be placed on the broken arm, so that it falls over the shoulder, while the other must pass over the "healthy" shoulder and support the injured forearm, a bit as if it were a cradle. Knot the two ends at the nape of your neck.

Part 3 of 3: Getting Medical Treatment

Tell if a Fall Broke Bones Without an X Ray Step 13

Step 1. Call 911 immediately if the fracture requires medical attention

If you notice any of the following signs, an ambulance is required; if you can't make the call yourself, ask a passerby to call 118.

The suspected fracture is part of a much more serious trauma or injury.
The person is unconscious. In other words, he is unable to speak or move. If he's not breathing, you should do CPR.
The victim is breathing heavily.
The limb or joint is deformed or bent at an unnatural angle.
The fracture site is numb and the tip is bluish.
You suspect a ruptured pelvis, hip, neck, head or back.
There is severe bleeding.

Tell if a Fall Broke Bones Without an X Ray Step 14

Step 2. Take precautions to avoid shock

Fractured bones can be the result of a serious accident that triggers a state of shock. Have the victim lie on their back until help arrives, making sure that the feet are raised above the level of the heart and the head lower than the chest. If you are concerned that the fracture involves a leg, do not lift it. Cover the person with a coat or blanket.

Remember never to move someone who may have suffered a head, spinal or cervical injury.
Try to put the injured person at ease and keep him warm. Pad the injured area with blankets, pillows, or clothing. Talk to him to distract him from the pain.

Tell if a Fall Broke Bones Without an X Ray Step 15

Step 3. Apply ice to manage swelling

Unfold clothing around the possible fracture and place ice on it to limit edema. In this way you facilitate the doctor's task who will have to reduce the fracture and at the same time relieve the pain. Don't let the ice come into direct contact with your skin, but wrap the compress in a cloth or other fabric.

You can also use some frozen food that you have on hand, such as a bag of frozen vegetables or fruit

Tell if a Fall Broke Bones Without an X Ray Step 16

Step 4. Always get checked by a doctor

At the very least, you should make an appointment with your doctor or, better yet, go to the emergency room for x-rays if you notice any late symptoms that didn't show up at the time of the trauma. You should always seek medical attention if you or the injured person experience pain at the site of the injury and show no signs of improvement even after several days. The injury should also be referred to a professional if the victim complains of sore spots that were absent at the time of the fracture but which developed after a day or two. Sometimes tissue edema can inhibit the perception of pain and pain.