How to distinguish a fracture from a bruise? Description of symptoms

You can get injured at every turn. In the risk zone, adults and children alike. And it does not matter whether you are engaged in a traumatic sport or just go to the kitchen to drink water - one awkward movement can lead to bruising, stretching or fracture. Therefore, you need to know how to deal with the victim in different situations. The algorithm for providing first aid directly depends on the type of injury. But an inexperienced person does not always manage to correctly recognize the type of damage.

How can you distinguish a fracture from a bruise? This is one of the most difficult questions for those who are learning to provide first aid. Let's try to find the answer.

What is a bruise?

Contusion - internal damage to tissues or organs, which is not accompanied by a violation of the integrity of the skin. This kind of injury can be the result of fracture, dislocation or stretching.

A bruise appears as a consequence of a fall ora strong blow. Soft tissues and organs located on the injured area suffer. At the site of the impact, a hematoma forms - a cluster of liquid or coagulated blood. If the bruised arm or leg was strong, the tissues around the bruise flow off, disrupting the mobility of the limb.

What is a fracture?

Fracture - complete or partial violationintegrity of bone or cartilage. It is accompanied by traumatization of surrounding tissues: muscles, skin, vessels, nerve endings. Fractures can appear for two reasons:

• due to the impact on the bone of external forces, capable of violating the strength of the skeleton;
• with little injury, if a person suffers from a disease that changes the structure of bone tissue.

Fracture can be open or closed. With a trauma of the first type, the skin is injured, there is a heavy bleeding. The damaged bone is visible on the surface. With a second type of injury, the skin remains intact, there is no external bleeding. There may be a hematoma.

Symptoms of a bruise and closed fracture are very similar. At first glance, both injuries do not have any distinctive features, except for the bruise. Therefore, people have the question: "How to distinguish a fracture from a bruise?"

Learning to distinguish fracture from bruise

To understand how to distinguish a fracture from a bruise is not as difficult as it may seem. Main features:

1. If a person has a fracture, the pain makes itself felt for several hours. May increase with time. With an injury, the pain gradually fades away.
2. In case of fracture, the edema of the damaged area increases by 2-3 days. With a bruise, it appears immediately after the impact.
3. If the integrity of the bone in the limb is damaged,It is impossible to perform motor activity due to the appearance of severe pain. For example, in the case of a hand injured, you can not clench your fist. If the leg is damaged, it is not possible to straighten it completely.
4. With a bone fracture, the limb can be deformed. Also, its length can change in comparison with healthy.

To understand what type of trauma a person has,Press on the damaged place in the longitudinal direction. If the hand or leg is injured, ask the patient to gently move the support to it. If the fracture appears sharp pain in the damaged area.

If you can not determine for yourself what type of injury the victim has, do not try to provide first aid. It is better to wait until the doctor arrives.

How to distinguish a fracture from a bruised hand?

Understand the external signs, what type of injury the victim is not so simple. And with a closed fracture, and with an injury, the same symptoms appear:

• a swelling appears on the affected area;
• the skin turns blue;
• the injured area hurts.

To distinguish fracture of a little finger from a bruise it is possible on following signs:

• the length of the damaged phalanx has changed;
• in the finger, there is a constant acute pain;
• when feeling, you can detect bone deformation.

If the bruise pain in the finger will occur duringmotor activity. In a couple of days it will pass. If the patient has a fracture, the pain will only increase with time. Stronger will become puffiness.

How to distinguish a fracture from a bruise yourself? Practical experience is important here. There is always a chance that a person without medical education will make a mistake. Therefore, you should not treat yourself.

It is not superfluous to visit the hospital and undergo an X-ray examination to get an accurate diagnosis.

A fracture or a bruised toe on the leg - how to understand?

To distinguish fracture of a little finger of a leg or foot from a bruise it is possible onThe same signs as the type of damage to the phalanx of the arm. There is a constant pain that becomes unbearable in a few days. The swelling gradually increases. The finger becomes shorter. When you feel, you can find a protuberance of the bone. If the fracture is displaced, a strong deformation of the finger will be noticeable.

If the toe is bruised, the victim will be hardmove the support to the injured limb. As with the bruise of the phalanx on the arm, there will be acute pain in the motor activity, which will quickly pass if the treatment is performed correctly.

We figured out how to distinguish a fracture from a bruised toe or hand injury. Now find out how to properly provide first aid.

Actions with a bruised limb

You can provide first aid by following the algorithm below:

• Apply a cold compress or ice wrapped in cloth to the site of the injury;
• if there is damage to the skin, treat the wound with an antiseptic and apply a bandage;
• with severe pain, anesthetics are taken.

Treat bruises with the help of special anti-inflammatory ointments. They remove puffiness, promote resorption of the hematoma and relieve pain. Restorative period after injury lasts 7-14 days.

If the hematoma that forms after the stroke does not pass a long time, it is recommended to consult a doctor. In rare cases, surgical intervention is required to cope with the disease.

How to help with a broken finger?

First aid for fracture is of great importancefor further treatment. It is important not to aggravate the situation. First of all, when the fractured finger is closed, it must be immobilized. To do this, from the available materials make a tire. A pen, a stick of ice cream, a twig will do. The tire is applied from the inside of the finger and fixed with a sterile bandage or any other tissue.

If the fracture is open, the wound must be treatedantiseptic means: "Chlorhexidine", hydrogen peroxide, "Miramistin." When bleeding, a gauze bandage or a cotton swab is applied to the damaged area. Then fix the injured finger. To remove the pain symptom, use "Analgin", "Ketanov", "Nurofen".

In case of a fracture, it is necessary to consult a doctor. It is impossible to cope independently with such a trauma.

You learned how to distinguish a fracture from a bruise. Acquainted with the technique of providing first aid in injuring a finger on the arm or leg. Following the instructions, you can easily help the victim. But if you are not sure of your abilities, you should not touch the injured limb. Incorrectly provided first aid will only exacerbate the condition of the patient.

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