Treatment of Fractures and Dislocations in San Francisco

Fractures and Dislocations are some of the most common bone and joint injuries. A facture is a crack in the bone and a dislocation occurs when two bones are out of place from the joint.

Symptoms

• A visibly out-of-place or misshapen limb
• Swelling, bruising or bleeding
• Intense pain
• Numbness and tingling
• Broken skin with bone protrusion
• Loss of motion

Treatment

• Apply a cold pack to the area of fracture or dislocation to decrease swelling and to relieve pain.
• Flush open wounds associated with compound fractures with clean, fresh water and cover them with a dry dressing.
• Splint the injured area to keep it from moving. Support a broken limb by using the best material available for a splint, such as sticks, part of a backpack frame, or other stabilizing device. Wrap tape around the splint and the extremity affected. Try to immobilize the joint above and below the fracture. For example, if a forearm is broken, the splint should run from across the wrist to the hand and across the elbow to the upper arm, supporting the forearm without repositioning it.
• Monitor the extremity near the fracture or dislocation, assessing any loss of sensation, decreased temperature, and pulse.

If you’d like to consult with Dr. Gordon Lundy, contact us at (415) 923-3015 to schedule an appointment at our office in San Francisco, CA.