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EMT Basic · Chapter 32 · Review · Chapter track

Orthopaedic Injuries

Referencing the content of EMT-Basic training and emergency patient care

Learning objectives (11)

  1. Demonstrate how to care for a patient with an amputation — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 1146); confirm wording in your course copy.

  2. Describe the different types of musculoskeletal injuries, including fractures, dislocations, amputations, sprains, and strains — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 1145); confirm wording in your course copy.

  3. Describe the emergency medical care of the patient with a swollen, painful, deformed extremity (fracture) — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 1145); confirm wording in your course copy.

  4. Describe the emergency medical care of the patient with an amputation — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 1145); confirm wording in your course copy.

  5. Describe the emergency medical care of the patient with an orthopaedic injury — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 1145); confirm wording in your course copy.

  6. Differentiate between open and closed fractures — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 1145); confirm wording in your course copy.

  7. Discuss the need for, general rules of, and possible complications of splinting — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 1145); confirm wording in your course copy.

  8. Explain how to assess the severity of an injury — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 1145); confirm wording in your course copy.

  9. Explain the reasons for splinting fractures, dislocations, and sprains at the scene versus transporting the patient immediately — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 1145); confirm wording in your course copy.

  10. Name the four mechanisms of injury — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 1145); confirm wording in your course copy.

  11. Recognize the characteristics of specific types of musculoskeletal injuries — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 1145); confirm wording in your course copy.

Chapter web resources

Optional reading from authoritative sites. Your textbook remains the primary source for this course.

When sources disagree (5 topics to verify before you teach from this chapter alone)

Printable study sheetPrintable flashcards (PDF, 10-up)Read first, then practise the track.

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Vocabulary · 13

  • Fracture

    A break in the continuity of a bone, ranging from a hairline crack to a complete separation of bone segments.

    SourceNIH MedlinePlus — Fractures

  • Open (compound) fracture

    A fracture in which broken bone has penetrated the skin or in which a wound communicates with the fracture site, raising infection risk.

    SourceAAOS OrthoInfo — Open fractures

  • Closed (simple) fracture

    A fracture in which the overlying skin remains intact.

    SourceAAOS OrthoInfo — Fracture types

  • Dislocation

    The displacement of a bone from its normal position in a joint.

    SourceAAOS OrthoInfo — Dislocations

  • Subluxation

    A partial dislocation of a joint, in which the bones are misaligned but still partly in contact.

    SourceMerriam-Webster Medical Dictionary — Subluxation

  • Sprain

    A stretching or tearing of a ligament — the tough fibrous tissue connecting bones at a joint.

    SourceNIH MedlinePlus — Sprains

  • Strain

    A stretching or tearing of a muscle or tendon — the tissue connecting muscle to bone.

    SourceNIH MedlinePlus — Strains

  • Splint

    A rigid or semi-rigid device used to immobilize an injured body part to reduce pain and prevent further damage.

    SourceAAOS OrthoInfo — Splints and casts

  • Traction splint

    A splint that applies a steady pulling force to align a closed mid-shaft femur fracture, reduce pain, and limit further injury.

    SourceAAOS OrthoInfo — Femur fractures

  • Compartment syndrome

    A dangerous buildup of pressure within an enclosed muscle compartment that compromises blood flow and can cause tissue death.

    SourceAAOS OrthoInfo — Compartment syndrome

  • Distal PMS

    A neurovascular check distal to an injury or splint — assessing Pulse, Motor function, and Sensation — to confirm intact circulation and nerves.

    SourceAAOS — Emergency Care and Transportation of the Sick and Injured, 12e — Distal PMS assessment

  • Crepitus

    A grating sensation or sound produced by broken bone ends rubbing together, by air in soft tissues, or by roughened joint surfaces.

    SourceMerriam-Webster Medical Dictionary — Crepitus

  • RICE

    First-aid mnemonic for an acute musculoskeletal injury — Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation.

    SourceAAOS OrthoInfo — Sprains, strains and other soft-tissue injuries

Sequences · 2

  • Splinting an extremity injury — Order the general splinting sequence.
  • RICE for an acute strain or sprain — Order the initial care for an acute soft-tissue musculoskeletal injury.