Clinical manifestation
Manifestation | Description | Significance |
Edema and swelling | Disruption or penetration of skin or soft tissues by bone fragments, or bleeding into surrounding tissues | Unchecked bleeding and swelling in closed space can occlude blood vessels and damage nerves (e.g., increased risk of compartment syndrome). |
Pain and Tenderness | Muscle spasm due to involuntary reflex action of muscle, direct tissue trauma, increased pressure on nerves, movement of fracture fragments. | Pain and tenderness encourage the patient to splint muscle around fracture and reduce motion of injured area. |
Muscle Spasm | Irritation of tissues and protective response to injury and fracture. | Muscle spasms may displace nondisplaced fracture or prevent it from reducing spontaneously |
Deformity | Abnormal position of extremity or part as result of original forces of injury and action of muscles pulling fragment into abnormal position. Seen as a loss of normal bony contours. | Deformity is cardinal sign of fracture. If uncorrected, it may result in problems with bony union and restoration of function of injured part. |
Contusion | Discoloration of skin (bruising) as a result of extravasation of blood in subcutaneous tissues. | Bruising may appear immediately after injury and may appear distal to injury. Reassure patient that process is normal and discoloration will eventually resolve. |
Loss of Function | Disruption of bone or joint, preventing functional use of limb or part. | Fracture must be managed properly to ensure restoration of function to limb or part |
Crepitation | Grating or crunching of bony fragments, producing palpable or audible crunching or popping sensation | Crepitation may increase chance for nonunion if bone ends are allowed to move excessively Micromovement of fragments (postfracture) assists in osteogenesis (new bone growth). |