14 Known Symptoms of Compound Fracture

Compound fractures are fractures that cause the bone to completely break in half, resulting in two sharp ends. One of these sharp ends then protrudes through the skin, drawing blood and resulting in a number of serious complications.

Compound fractures are very easy to diagnose, as you can clearly see the bone protruding and the blood loss that this is causing!

However, it’s also important to recognize the many symptoms associated with a compound fracture. That’s because this is a serious and complicated injury, and you need to understand the best ways to treat and manage it to prevent it from becoming worse.

In this post, we’ll break down 8 of the most common symptoms of a compound fracture.

1. Shock

One of the things that can be most noticeable when you first receive a compound fracture is a shock. This is your body’s response to an extreme injury, wherein your heart rate will raise significantly, your immune system will go into overdrive, and you will experience a “fight or flight response.” Your blood will thicken, you will likely panic, and you might be prone to hyperventilation.

The danger of this, is that it can lead to further injury. Hyperventilation, for example, can cause you to pass out as you flood the body with too much oxygen for it to be able to use. This, in turn, can then cause you to fall and potentially to gain a further impact as you collide with scenery on the way down, or as you hit the floor.

One of the first things to treat if you notice someone with a compound fracture for these reasons is the shock. Make sure to increase their blood sugar level, give them something to drink, and set them down so that the blood can easily reach the brain.