Fracture pain

Pain during a fracture occurs as a result of bone tissue fractures. This refers to the presence of a complete or partial violation of the integrity of the bones, when loads occur that exceed the strength of the area that is injured.

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Causes of pain in fractures

A fracture can occur in two types of cases: when there is an injury, and when the patient has suffered from a disease that has led to changes in the strength and other characteristics of the body's bone tissue and provoked the destruction of bones (tumor, osteomyelitis).

How severe a person's condition will be after a fracture depends on the size of the bone areas that were damaged, as well as the number of such areas. For example, massive blood loss and traumatic shock can be caused by multiple fractures, especially if these are large tubular bones. Recovery from injuries of this kind is slow, the patient can recover for several months.

Fractures can be open (if soft tissues such as skin and muscles are also damaged) or closed.

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Symptoms of pain in fracture

Symptoms of pain due to a fracture include:

• the presence of sharp pain in certain areas near the site of injury;
• the presence of hemorrhages and swelling in the soft tissues surrounding the damaged area;
• if the injured limb has changed its mobility and shape;
• in particularly severe cases, there may be a crunching sound created by bone fragments;
• A characteristic symptom of a rib fracture is pain at the fracture, which occurs when a person takes a deep breath or coughs.

Pain may occur both at the moment when the fracture occurred and some time after the situation. The fact is that along with the bone fracture, nerve endings are injured.

When a bone is fractured, its functioning is disrupted first of all, abnormal mobility is observed, accompanied by crepitus, and the damaged area is deformed. Contraction of muscles near the fracture site can lead to the damaged limb being slightly shortened. When a fracture occurs, shock, intoxication (if there are extensive fractures, the tissues that were injured disintegrate), increased body temperature, and hematomas are possible.

Pain in skull fractures

One of the most dangerous types of fractures are fractures of the cranial bones. Such fractures occur if a person is hit on the head, most often the cause is some hard object. In addition, it can be a falling stone, or when a person falls and hits his head on stones or a hard surface. Pain with a skull fracture occurs in the damaged area, it swells noticeably. If you carefully palpate the fracture area, you will feel the displacement of bone fragments, but it is better not to do this, due to the risk of brain damage. This is the most unfavorable thing about this type of fracture - the brain can be damaged by the blow and fractures of the cranial bones. A fracture of the base of the skull is usually accompanied by symptoms such as:

• the appearance of dark circles under the eyes, and often they even appear throughout the entire periorbital space (in the form of glasses);
• the release of a clear fluid from the nasal cavity, which contains a small admixture of blood, called cerebrospinal fluid;
• feeling of weakness;
• state of stupefaction;
• darkening of the vision;
• nausea;
• vomit.

The complexity of this fracture is that the first time (several minutes) after the injury the victim may not even notice his injury, as he will feel quite normal and will not be able to give an objective assessment of his condition. The name of this condition is the period of imaginary well-being. After this, a sharp deterioration in the condition may be observed, even cardiac activity and breathing may stop.

Pain in spinal fractures

A spinal fracture and the pain that is characteristic of it occur when a person falls from a high place or hits his head on the bottom when diving; when there is a strong blow to the back (for example, in car accidents, rockfalls); when a person gets under rubble. The pain from spinal fractures manifests itself in the back and is very strong, especially when a person tries to move. The most dangerous thing about this type of fracture is that the spinal cord, which is located in the spinal canal, can be damaged as a result of the fracture. Spinal cord injury can occur from vertebral fragments if they are destroyed, as well as if they are displaced. Damage to the spinal cord causes paralysis of the arms and legs, and sometimes the whole body, while a person completely loses sensitivity and the ability to move in any way.

Pain from a broken arm

Pain in hand fractures occurs along the bone. The limb takes on an unnatural shape, and unnatural mobility is also possible in places where there are no joints, and the limb may swell.

If there is a suspicion that the carpal bone is broken or dislocated, the hand is bandaged to a wide splint so that its beginning is in the middle of the forearm and the end is at the fingertips. Before this, cotton wool (a lump), bandage or something similar is placed in the palm to bend the fingers. Cold is applied to the injured area.

Leg pain with fracture

Pain in fractures of the lower limbs occurs along the bone, the limb swells, acquires an unnatural shape and mobility, in places where this should not be and the joints are not located. To provide first aid for leg fractures, a splint is applied to the injured limb (you can use a plywood plate, a stick, cardboard or something similar). The length of the splint should be such that it can be located from the place above the edge of the pelvis (you can up to the armpits) to the heels. In this way, you can achieve complete rest of the injured limb. When applying the splint, it is advisable not to lift the injured leg, but to hold it in the position in which it is, and carefully thread the garters to the splint under the lower back, knee and heel, trying not to move the leg. A cold object should be applied to the injured area.

Pain with rib fractures

Rib fractures occur when a person falls from a height, if the chest is compressed, if there is a direct blow, etc. The pain from a rib fracture is sharp and occurs when a person breathes, coughs, or changes body position. When the ribs are damaged, the victim usually does not take deep breaths, which causes shallow breathing. The main danger with rib fractures is that the pleura and lungs can be damaged by the sharp edges of bone fragments. If the lungs are damaged, subcutaneous emphysema may occur, when air penetrates the subcutaneous tissue. This causes the intercostal spaces to smooth out, which resembles edema.

To determine whether it is swelling or not, you can feel the area of damage - in this case, your fingers will produce a crunching sound, reminiscent of small bubbles bursting.

Pain with a broken collarbone

Clavicle fractures usually occur from falling on an outstretched arm, less often - when a person falls on the shoulder joint or if the clavicle is hit directly. Pain from a clavicle fracture usually occurs when a person tries to move his arm - painful sensations appear in the clavicle. Most often in this case, the victim presses his arm to the body and tries not to move it at all. Deformation of the clavicle can be clearly observed externally, it is clearly visible; the fracture area swells. If you palpate the fracture area, the victim will feel sharp pain in this place. There is a displacement of the outer part of the clavicle downwards and forwards, which is facilitated by the weight of the arm. With clavicle fractures, deep-lying vessels and nerves in the brachial plexus can also be damaged.

Pain in pelvic bone fractures

A pelvic bone fracture is dangerous because it is accompanied by damage to internal organs. Only the mortality rate from cranial bone fractures exceeds the mortality rate from pelvic bone fractures – this is a very dangerous type of fracture. Most often, a pelvic bone fracture and the pain after it occur when a person gets into rubble, under rockfalls, if he falls from a height and from direct strong blows. The pain from a pelvic bone fracture is very sharp, the victim cannot change his body position at all due to the intense pain that occurs. Often the shape of the pelvis changes noticeably and is distorted. The patient's position usually resembles a frog – the person lies on his back, legs bent at the knee joint and hip joint, spread apart. The site of the blow is accompanied by the formation of a hematoma. With pelvic bone fractures, damage to internal organs also occurs. Usually this is the bladder, rectum, urethra, etc. The victim may experience traumatic shock. There is a rule: if a victim in an unconscious state has multiple fractures, then a priori a fracture of the pelvic bones is suspected until it is proven that there is none.

Pain from a broken ankle

Pain from a broken ankle is quite severe, and occurs both when a person tries to move and when at rest. When the ankle is broken, the limb is deformed and swelling occurs in the damaged area. Some cases are characterized by displacement of bone fragments. This usually occurs if the ankle is subject to prolonged impact, as well as when the muscles attached to the bone pull the ankle.

Severe pain is the first symptom of an ankle fracture, and it often occurs in a different location than the fracture. Particularly severe pain from an ankle fracture occurs in the foot or knee, so intense that it interferes with a person's ability to walk.

First of all, an ankle fracture is characterized by severe pain, often not occurring at the site of the fracture itself. Often, the most severe pain, which interferes with walking, is felt by patients in the foot or knee.

To reduce pain from a broken ankle, you can apply something cold to the injured area.

Pain after fracture

There are situations when post-fracture pain bothers the victim even after the bone fragments have grown together. In such cases, post-fracture pain is usually accompanied by discomfort, flexion contractures, and muscle atrophy. All these symptoms are most often associated with the fact that nearby soft tissues have been injured; a pseudoarthrosis and excess bone callus may have developed, which disrupts blood microcirculation and pinches nerves. Thus, recurrent edema occurs in the fracture area. Impaired blood flow leads to the bone and surrounding tissues not being fully restored, which may lead to a repeated fracture. Such situations require the patient to undergo a special rehabilitation course to eliminate post-fracture pain and other symptoms.

Diagnosis of pain in fracture

In most cases, a fracture is easily recognized, but to make an accurate diagnosis, a specialist examination is required. When diagnosing pain from a fracture, the doctor takes into account the direction of the fracture, its type, displacement of bones, etc. A traumatologist must do this, therefore, after providing first aid to reduce pain from a fracture and ensure the safety of damaged organs, the victim must be urgently diagnosed by a professional. Fracture treatment can be both conservative and surgical.

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Treatment of pain in fractures

Experts strongly recommend refraining from independent attempts to reduce the fracture. No matter in what part of the body the fracture occurs, what the person himself or the people around him must do is create conditions in which the bone will be completely calm and motionless. Any movements and displacements will cause sharp pain during the fracture. In addition, the skin may break, blood vessels may be damaged, and severe bleeding may occur. In any case, the primary task is to deliver the patient to the hospital.