{"id":9865,"date":"2019-09-04T08:36:35","date_gmt":"2019-09-04T08:36:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/?p=9865"},"modified":"2021-06-22T17:22:01","modified_gmt":"2021-06-22T17:22:01","slug":"14-known-symptoms-of-compound-fracture","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/14-known-symptoms-of-compound-fracture\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Known Symptoms of Compound Fracture"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

However, it\u2019s also important to recognize the many symptoms associated with a compound fracture. That\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this post, we\u2019ll break down 8 of the most common symptoms of a compound fracture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Shock<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One of the things that can be most noticeable when you first receive a compound fracture is a shock. This is your body\u2019s response to an extreme injury<\/a>, wherein your heart rate will raise significantly, your immune system will go into overdrive, and you will experience a \u201cfight or flight response.\u201d Your blood will thicken, you will likely panic, and you might be prone to hyperventilation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2. Bleeding<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Bleeding <\/a>is, of course, one of the first and most notable signs of a compound fracture. Blood loss can be serious for many reasons. Again, it might lead to passing out if a lot of blood is lost and if this leads you to lose blood pressure (the amount of blood reaching the brain will in this case drop significantly).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, a loss of blood can mean a loss of iron and oxygen, and the body can only survive losing so much.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are forced to deal with the blood loss yourself, then you should make stopping the blood loss one of your top priorities. Do this by applying pressure to the injury using a sterile bandage. Be careful not to upset the position of the bone, but apply enough pressure to reduce the flow of blood. Try to elevate the limb at the same time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3. Swelling<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Swelling <\/a>is a natural response to injury. The reason the body swells up in response to injury like this is in order to provide a supply of blood as well as other beneficial fluids to the site of the problem. Increased blood will carry more nutrients to the area, and this will also rush white blood cells and other types of immune responders. The aim for your body is to quickly section off the area, cause it to clot, and prevent infection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the same time, swelling may help to prevent movement of the limb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The problem is that swelling can cause more damage if it places excess pressure on the injury, and it can certainly lead to additional pain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Addressing swelling should not be a primary concern if you have just acquired a stress fracture. However, if you are in recovery, then your doctor might have instructed you to try and address the swelling by applying ice packs, by elevating the affected area, and by applying gentle compression with a towel or bandage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4. Deformity<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A compound fracture <\/a>can result in a visible, physical deformity. This is caused because the bone will protrude at an angle it doesn\u2019t normally, resulting in an unusual shape or bulge affecting the area. What\u2019s more, is that you might notice that a limb bends in an unusual direction, or that there is a concave element on an otherwise flat bone. Swelling can further compound the problem, as can scarring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The nature of the deformity will depend on the type of bone affected. Rest assured that in most cases, the bone can be reset and the deformity can be corrected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If the bone doesn\u2019t fully penetrate the skin, then it won\u2019t be considered a compound fracture. However, you can still identify the severe break by the way that the bone pushes against the skin from underneath.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5. Severe Pain<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Severe pain <\/a>is another common symptom of compound fracture and one that should not come as a huge shock. In this scenario, the affected individual needs to deal with the pain of a broken bone, in conjunction with an open wound, a blunt impact, and potentially many other types of pain.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pain can be managed with painkillers. If you are waiting for the emergency services, avoid painkillers particularly as they might be blood thinning which can contribute to blood loss. However, with the doctor\u2019s consent, you may be given potent analgesics such as morphine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Note that in some cases, you may not actually feel a lot of pain immediately following the injury. This is because the effect of shock can be strong enough to completely override your pain perception \u2013 making you numb to the sensation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If this should happen, it can occasionally lead to the injured party making mistakes in their movement that lead to further damage \u2013 for example placing weight on a damaged limb. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6. Infection<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Infection <\/a>is a common complication of a compound fracture owing to the protrusion through the skin. This creates an open wound that is very deep and leads a long way inside the tissue. If dirt is allowed to get inside the area, or if you should fail to properly maintain the area, then this can cause bacteria to open the wound and cause infection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are several signs of infection you can look out for. One is swelling which might appear on top of the swelling to be expected from such an injury. Another is discoloration of the surrounding skin \u2013 you might notice the area looks blueish, red, or even black.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You will also find that pain radiates out from the injury site. Should you have an infection, you will find that a doctor can normally treat it with a course of antibiotics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7. Weakness\/Loss of Mobility<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A compound fracture will result in extreme weakness <\/a>in the affected area. You will likely find that it is very hard to move the affected region, especially if it is a limb that has broken. If it is a limb, then you will also most likely find that you can\u2019t exert any strength this way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In fact, depending on the severity of the damage, you may be completely unable to move the limb and notice a complete loss of mobility. There are numerous potential reasons for this. One is that you might have completely snapped the bone before the muscle insertion point \u2013 meaning that there is no hinge mechanism. Another is that the swelling and pain can prevent movement. Finally, you might have damaged the nerve or torn the muscle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8. Visible Bone<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The most notable symptom of a compound fracture is a visible bone protrusion. In other words, the bone <\/a>has snapped and pushed through the skin, resulting in bleeding and the visible edge of that broken bone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is what defines the accident as a compound fracture, though in rare cases a dislocation might also cause the skin to break.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t try to move the bone yourself. Some people may think that they or a friend can set the bone back to its original position. However, unless you are trained you likely won\u2019t know how to do this. Doing it wrong can actually cause a lot more damage to the skin, the bone, and more importantly the surrounding blood vessels and nerves. That might result in more serious (even fatal) blood loss or nerve damage that results in permanent paralysis of the affected area.
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