Page 151 - ASOP ROT Study Guide
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3.1.4 Swelling
Swelling is a natural reaction to injury, but excessive swelling is painful and makes treatment and
recovery more difficult (Figure 4). To reduce swelling, the injured part can be elevated. An
injured arm should be raised above the level of the heart as this will help fluid to drain. In the case
of an injured leg, the injured person should be lying down with the leg raised above chest level.
No single act is as important as mis in the first aid treatment of fractures.
3.1.3 Tenderness
As well as being painful, the area around a suspected fracture is tender - it hurts when touched
or pressed as in Figure 3.
3.1.4 Swelling
Swelling is a natural reaction to injury, but excessive swelling is painful and makes treatment and
recovery more difficult (Figure 4). To reduce swelling, the injured part can be elevated. An
injured arm should be raised above the level of the heart as this will help fluid to drain. In the
case of an injured leg, the injured person should be lying down with the leg raised above chest
level. No single act is as important as mis in the first aid treatment of fractures.
3.1.5 Discoloration or bruising
Loss of blood and swelling causes changes in color which can help in diagnosis. It is possible to
age an injury according to the discoloration present. At first it is dark because of the
deoxygenated blood loss into the soft tissues. Then, as the hemoglobin in the red blood cells is
broken down and carried away to the liver by scavenger cells, the color changes to green and then
to yellow.
3.1.6 Loss of function
Breaking a bone is most likely to result in the loss of normal function in the injured part of the
body.
3.1.7 Crepitus
Crepitus may be perceived as a grating feeling when examining an injury but, to deliberately look
for this sign will not be appreciated by the injured person!
