Compression: Your limb or other body part will be held in place for healing with a cast or other device.Ice: You should ice above and around the compound fracture as soon as the injury occurs, but be careful not to contaminate the actual wound.Rest: You’ll heal faster and be less likely to cause more injury if you rest the body parts.You should also avoid using any of the joints near the break unless absolutely necessary to get help. Protection: Before you go to the hospital, you should cover the open fracture with a clean, wet towel to avoid getting dirt inside it.Treatment for your compound fracture is summed up by the acronym P.R.I.C.E.: You might also get a tetanus vaccine and antibiotics, depending on what caused your injury and/or the location and severity of the fracture. A nerve block is a numbing medicine that’s injected straight into the nerves around the area. Multiple possible pain medications by mouth, or directly into a vein for faster relief.When you get to the emergency department you’ll get one or more pain relief options, including: What is the treatment for a compound fracture? Whether or not you need an ambulance, you should always go to the nearest emergency department where healthcare providers will diagnose the compound fracture and plan your treatment. If you’re taken to the hospital by ambulance after the fracture, the healthcare providers in the ambulance will be able to diagnose it. What healthcare providers diagnose compound fractures?Ĭompound fractures are obvious fractures. Check for nerve damage by examining the area around and beyond your injury.Check your pulse and blood pressure to be sure there is no significant bleeding.Check the color and temperature of your skin.Your healthcare provider will check for complications in addition to diagnosing the compound fracture itself. Sometimes healthcare providers require a more sensitive test, like an MRI (magnetic resonance images) or a CT scan (computed tomography) to fully assess the damage from the fracture. The healthcare provider will do a physical examination and then order X-rays to see exactly how the bones are broken and how they need to be aligned. Less commonly broken bones include:Ī compound/open fracture is more obvious to a healthcare provider than a simple/closed fracture because your bone has broken through your skin. Which bones can fracture?Īny bone in your body can break, but compound fractures most commonly occur in your limbs (arms, hands, legs and feet). A fracture is a serious injury, and you should immediately go to the emergency department for help. It may also be frightening to see your bone exposed. “Simple” or “closed” fractures don’t break through your skin.Ĭompound fractures are extremely painful. If you happen to fall from a ladder and land on your arm, breaking it, you’ll know it’s a compound fracture if you can see the bone. What makes a fracture “compound” or “open” is when the broken bone pierces your skin. For example, if a soldier frequently marches with a heavy pack on their back, the repeated force on their leg could cause a crack in their fibula. Fractures can also be caused by less traumatic but repeated force. Generally, bones break as a result of force and/or trauma like a car crash. A compound fracture is a break or crack in your bone that is visible through your skin.
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