What does first aid for joint dislocations include?

Symptoms of joint dislocation

Dislocation of the joint is the displacement of the articular surface of the bones, which is accompanied by damage to the capsule-ligamentous apparatus. Dislocation is usually accompanied by damage to the soft tissues of the joint. At the same time, ligaments with blood vessels, capsule, and tendons of adjacent muscles can be torn. This damage leads to serious functional impairment of both a single joint and the entire limb. It should be noted that correct and timely first aid for joint dislocations plays an important role in the full restoration of function.

Types of dislocations:

by degree of displacement (complete and incomplete dislocation);
by origin (congenital and acquired);
open sprains with the formation of a wound;
closed without tearing the tissues and skin over the joint.

Read more about the symptoms of joint dislocation.

Types of joint dislocations

Dislocation of the shoulder joint. Depending on which side the head of the humerus is displaced, the damage can be lower, back or front. The latter occurs in 98% of cases. Pain with any attempt to move the joint, swelling, reduced mobility of the joint, impaired sensitivity and blood supply are the main symptoms of this condition. The treatment of dislocation of the shoulder joint should be carried out exclusively by a specialist.

The causes of dislocation of the knee joint can be a strong blow, a fall from a height, congenital anomalies and a sharp contraction of the thigh muscle during fast walking. Symptoms of such an injury will be pain, swelling, numbness of the limb, a change in the shape of the knee, a specific position of the leg and the inability to move. Since the injury is considered serious, the first aid, treatment and rehabilitation after a dislocation of the knee joint should take place under the supervision of a doctor.

Dislocation of the hip joint can be anterior or posterior. The front one can appear as a result of a fall from a height. The cause of the rear is most often a road traffic injury. The symptoms of injury include severe pain, a forced position of the limb, a change in the shape of the joint and a slight shortening of the affected limb. Dislocation of the hip joint in newborns will be discussed in the next article.

Diagnostics

After conducting an examination and palpation of the damaged area, the traumatologist (namely, he deals with such injuries, including congenital joint dislocations) will refer the patient to radiography. After confirming the diagnosis, the doctor can provide full professional care, starting with the removal of the dislocation and ending with the necessary immobilization or fixation, supplemented, if necessary, with medication and general strengthening treatment. At the end of the immobilization period, a rehabilitation program is prescribed with the restoration of movements and prediction of treatment results.

Providing first aid for joint dislocations

The main task of first aid is complete immobilization of the damaged joint in a position of minimal pain (splitting, bandaging, to the body/extremity, tight bandage, etc.). If there is skin damage in the area of the injury, it should be treated with hydrogen peroxide and a clean (ideally sterile) bandage should be applied or the wound should be bandaged with a bandage. A cold compress is applied to the joint to reduce swelling. It is not recommended to give the victim water or painkillers in the form of tablets. The above-mentioned measures will in most cases be enough before the arrival of the ambulance, to provide assistance with the removal of dislocation in a medical institution in the shortest possible time, the main condition of which is an empty stomach of the injured person.

Treatment of dislocation of the shoulder joint

Treatment of any dislocation primarily involves exercising the joint and returning it to its physiological position. This procedure is recommended to be performed as soon as possible under general anesthesia (especially in children) and in some cases under local anesthesia (dislocations of the hand or foot). The decision in this case is made by the doctor, taking into account the patient's condition and degree of damage. Surgery for a common dislocation of the shoulder joint is performed by an orthopedic traumatologist or a surgeon specializing in sports injuries.

In case of untimely treatment, there is a possibility of contracture development. In chronic dislocations (more than 3 weeks), joint function may be irreversibly lost.

Dislocation of the hip joint in newborns

The main symptoms of this disease will be asymmetry of the gluteal folds and limitation of joint mobility during passive abduction of the hip, clicking during various movements in the joint and relative (comparative) shortening of the limb (in the case of unilateral pathology). Dislocation of the hip joint, as well as dislocation of the finger, can only be diagnosed by a specialist after a clinical examination with the appointment of instrumental studies.

Treatment of hip dislocation in newborns is conservative. Therapy includes physical therapy, massage, extensive swaddling and use of a fixation device. If all recommendations are followed, the head of the femur is exercised independently in most cases, the success of the treatment is determined by the time of detection of the pathology and its severity.

On our website https://dobrobut.com/ you will be able to familiarize yourself with the qualifications of specialists who advise in this direction. In addition, if you are interested in the signs of carpal joint dislocation in children, the doctor will answer all questions on the topic. You can make an appointment at any time convenient for you.

Congenital joint dislocations

Congenital dislocation of the hip occurs most often in girls and is diagnosed immediately after birth. The cause of the disease is the underdevelopment of the femoral head and joint cavity. The main symptoms of a dislocation include the asymmetry of the gluteal folds, limitation of movement in the hip, and slight shortening of the limb. The final diagnosis is made after ultrasound and X-ray of the hip joint.

Treatment for hip dislocation depends on the energy of the injury. In such cases, after the examination, the specialist can assess the degree of damage to the joint, determining the most optimal treatment tactics. It can be both symptomatic drug treatment in simple cases with the possibility of loading, as well as plaster fixation or in some cases surgical restoration of the articular apparatus of the damaged joint.

Rehabilitation measures

The main methods of rehabilitation, including recovery after dislocation of the carpal and elbow joints in adults, include physical therapy, massage and physiotherapy. As the latter, laser therapy, ultrasound, myoelectric stimulation, magnetotherapy and interference therapy are widely used.

Performing therapeutic exercises after a dislocation of the shoulder or knee joint, you will quickly restore the mobility of the joint, improve blood circulation and increase its flexibility. For the same purpose, various types of massage are prescribed during rehabilitation. Please note that after a joint dislocation, the recovery period for each patient is individual and requires regular supervision by an orthopedist and a rehabilitation specialist, in some cases a neurologist, massage therapist and physiotherapist.

The prevention of dislocations can only be injury prevention or early diagnosis (professional examination for congenital pathology) in newborns.

On our website, you will be able to familiarize yourself with the qualifications of specialists who consult in this area. You can make an appointment at any time convenient for you.