Chapter Eight
Injuries to Muscles, Bones, and
Joints
Muscles

Type of soft tissue which contract
and relax to produce various
movements
 Three types of Muscle:




Skeletal- attached to bones, produces body
movement
Smooth- Lines blood vessels, digestive
tract, organs
Cardiac- found in heart, produces rhythmic
contractions
Tendon - a cord or band of dense,
tough, inelastic, white, fibrous tissue

connects muscle to bone
Bones
Hard connective tissue forming the
substance of the skeleton
 Have a rich supply of
blood and nerves
 Protect organs
 Not easily injured

Bones

Growth Plates – areas of developing
cartilage near the ends of long bones
Bones

Osteoporosis – the gradual weakening of
bones that causes them to get brittle and
break more easily
Joints

The ends of two or
more bones coming
together at one place
form a joint.
 Ligaments - sheet or
band of tough, fibrous
tissue

connects bones to other
bones
Fractures

A complete or partial break or a chip in a
bone cause be a fall, blunt force, or
twisting.
 Open (Compound) Fracture


When the skin is broken by either

Bone pierces through the skin

Something coming in through the skin causing the
injury (Ex: bullet)
Closed (Simple) Fracture


Skin is in tact
More common
Dislocations

The movement of a bone at a joint away from
its normal position.
 The joint will no longer function.
 Often forms a bump, a ridge or a hollow that
does not normally exist.
Sprains

Injury resulting from the
stretch or twist of the joint.


Causes various degrees of
stretch or tear of a ligament
A severe sprain may also
involve a fracture or
dislocation.
Strains

Stretching or tearing
of the muscles or
tendons.
 Usually occur by
working a muscles
too hard.
 Some strains can
reoccur like in the
neck and back.
Signs of Serious Injury






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Significant deformity
Bruising or swelling
Inability to use the injured
part normally
Bone sticking out through
the skin
Person feels bone grating,
heard a snap or pop
The injured area is cold or
numb
Cause of injury suggests the
injury could be severe
Call 9-1-1 if 
There is obvious deformity

There is moderate to severe swelling and discoloration

A snap or pop was heard or felt at the time of injury

It is an open fracture

The person cannot move or use the effected part normally

The area is cold or numb

The injured area is cold or numb

It involves the head, neck or spine

The person has trouble breathing

It is not possible to safely or comfortably move the person to a
vehicle for transport to a hospital
R.I.C.E.
Rest – Do not move or straighten the area
 Immobilize – stabilize the area in the
position it was found
 Cold – fill a plastic bag or wrap ice with a
damp cloth and apply ice to the injured
area for periods of 20 minutes
 Elevate – Only elevate the injured area if
it WILL NOT cause more pain

Splinting Injuries

The purpose of immobilizing an injury is to –




Lessen pain
Prevent further damage
Reduce the risk of serious bleeding or loss of
circulation
Prevent closed fractures from becoming open fractures
Principles of Splinting
Splint only if the person must be moved
 Splint only if you can do it without causing
more pain
 Splint the injury in the position you find it
 Splint above and below the injury

If it’s a fracture, splint the joints
 If it’s a sprain or joint injury, splint the bones


Check for circulation before and after
splinting
Types of Splints

Anatomic Splint
 Use

the person’s body as a splint
Soft Splint
 Use
soft materials to splint
 A sling is a specific type of soft splint

Rigid Splint
 Boards,

folded magazines
The ground
 An
injured leg stretched out on the ground is
splinted by the ground
Head, Neck, and Back Injuries
Can cause paralysis, speech or memory
problems
 Can damage bones and soft tissue
 These injuries should always be taken
seriously

Head Injuries
Injuries to the head can rupture blood vessels
in the brain.
 Pressure builds and can cause further
damage
 Most common type- Concussion
 Signals of head injuries:

 Dizziness
Confusion
 Unconsciousness

Spinal (Neck and Back) Injuries
The spine is a strong, flexible column of 33
vertebrae separated by disks.
 The spinal cord is a column of nerve tissue
that runs from the base of the skull down
the spinal column.
 Injuries to the neck or back can fracture
vertebrae, tear ligaments, and cut or
squeeze the spinal cord causing paralysis.

When to suspect a head, neck, or back injury 

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Car accident
Fall greater than a standing height
Violence
Sports – helmet is broken
Complains of neck, back, head pain
Has a tingling or weakness in the extremities
Is not fully alert
Appears intoxicated
Appears to be frail or over 65 old
Person is under 3 years old
Care for Head, Neck, and Back Injuries

Call 9-1-1
 Minimize the person’s movement
 Hold the person in the position you find them



Place hands on both sides of person’s head
Hold head in the position you found it until EMS
arrives
Do not remove a helmet if one is present
Concussion
A brain injury that involves a temporary loss
of brain function resulting from a blow to the
head.
 Effects may appear immediately or very soon
after the blow to the head.
 Signs and Symptoms include –

Sleepiness
 Mood and cognitive disturbances
 Sensitivity to light and noise

Chest Injuries

A person with a broken rib
will take small shallow
breaths and experience
discomfort by the injured
area
 Have the person rest in a
position that makes
breathing easier
 Bind the upper arm to the
person’s chest on the
injured side
Pelvic Injuries
The pelvis surrounds important organs
inside the body as well as the lower spine
 Call 9-1-1
 Do not move the victim, keep them lying
flat, monitor life signs and care for shock
