Symptoms of a fracture

Symptoms of a fracture are the necessary signs that help differentiate true bone damage from a severe soft tissue contusion. Signs are conventionally divided into absolute, that is, obvious and beyond doubt, and relative, that is, indicative. Absolute symptoms of a fracture are characteristic and immediately confirm a fracture, indicative may indicate a possible bone injury, but may also be signs of other, clinically similar injuries.

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What are the symptoms of a fracture?

Symptoms of a fracture are relative:

• There is pain, which may increase with load on the fracture site. If the shin is broken, tapping on the heel will increase the pain in the area of the injury;
• Swelling may form at the site of the fracture, but it does not always develop quickly and cannot serve as direct evidence of a fracture; on the contrary, it is more likely evidence of a bruise or sprain;
• A hematoma may not form immediately; if the hematoma is pulsating, this indicates extensive hemorrhage into the subcutaneous tissue;
• Limitation of motor activity, movement causes pain;
• The damaged bone or limb may look atypical (fracture of the radius, tibia, etc.).

Symptoms of a fracture are absolute:

• Obvious abnormal position and appearance of the limb;
• Excessive mobility in areas where there are no joints;
• When palpated, a characteristic crunch is felt - crepitation, crepitation can be heard with a phonendoscope, sometimes with the naked ear;
• Open wound and bone fragments in an open fracture.

Reliable symptoms of a fracture are abnormal, uncharacteristic mobility of the bone at the site of injury, open wounds, changes in the relationship of joints, crepitus. Probable symptoms of a fracture are swelling, single or multiple hematomas, pain.

A fracture is diagnosed in a standard way - examination, palpation, percussion (in case of a spinal fracture), determination of finger mobility, X-ray. Attention is also paid to the skin in the peripheral zones from the injury site, their color and shade are studied. Bluish-pale skin, sometimes with a marbled pattern, indicates damage to the nerve endings and blood vessels of the limb.

Another alarming signal is a weak pulse or its absence in characteristic places where the pulse has always been felt (radial artery, dorsum of the foot, popliteal area). It is necessary to determine whether there is a violation of blood flow in the peripheral zones of the upper or lower extremities. The most accurate and reliable method for diagnosing fractures of any location and type is an X-ray. As a rule, it is carried out in several projections to see the condition of nearby joints. An X-ray of the intact paired limb may also be prescribed to determine the asymmetry and relationship of the landmarks of the skeletal system. X-ray provides specific information about the nature and severity of the fracture, about possible displacement or the presence of bone fragments.

Symptoms of a fracture and its types

Symptoms of a Broken Ankle

Such injuries are conventionally divided into four groups:

• Isolated, separate fractures of the ankles (malleoli);
• Fracture with inward rotation of the foot - adduction;
• Fracture with rotation of the foot from outside to outside - abduction;
• Fracture of both ankles with damage to the tibia.

If both ankles are damaged, the fracture is accompanied by a dislocation. Clinical symptoms of a fracture are swelling, which increases quite quickly, often a hematoma at the site of injury, and severe pain.

Symptoms of a broken tibia

Such traumatic injuries are very common and account for up to 30% of the total number of fractures. The clinical symptoms of a fracture are typical, but with a shin injury, hemarthrosis (accumulation of blood in the joint cavity) often occurs. Visually, the shin is displaced either outward or inward. The knee does not function, its lateral movements are impaired.

Symptoms of a Broken Arm

Hands are the leading injuries in terms of the number of common injuries, they are most often associated with domestic reasons. The following symptoms of a fracture are characteristic: swelling, severe pain at the site of the fracture, especially pain in the elbow joint. Sometimes a hand injury is accompanied by an increase in body temperature, which may indicate severe bleeding at the site of injury (combined forearm fracture). Deformation of the hand is noticeable only with a fracture with displacement, crepitus is also uncharacteristic. Crunching appears only in the case of multiple, splinter fractures of the bone.

Symptoms of spinal fractures of varying severity

The symptoms of this type of fracture are very characteristic and, as a rule, do not raise any doubts. Spinal injuries are considered the most alarming and dangerous, sometimes not only for the health, but also for the life of the victim. When a fracture occurs, one of the main blood-forming organs, the spinal cord, is strongly compressed. Such an injury is fraught with complete immobility and paralysis. In addition to the typical signs characteristic of all fractures, a spinal injury is manifested by severe deformation, protrusion or sinking of the vertebrae. There is acute pain, especially when palpating the damaged area. Often, a spinal fracture is accompanied by immobility, loss of sensitivity in the area below the waist. Such loss of control of the lower half of the body leads to incontinence of urine and feces, or their retention.

Symptoms of a fracture are almost always obvious and can only be confused with a severe bruise. In any case, before seeking medical help, it is necessary to ensure immobility of the victim and immobilize the injured area. A surgeon can make a final diagnosis using examination, palpation, and X-ray.