Musculoskeletal injuries and their management
Injuries that result in damage to the skeletal or muscular system are called musculoskeletal injuries. These parts include tendons, ligaments nerves blood vessels, muscles, and bones. The major causes of these injuries are repetitive activities or very strenuous activities which can lead to deformities and some complications.
The first category of these injuries is soft tissue injuries which entail damage of muscles, blood vessel, ligaments, nerves, skin, and tendons. These types of injuries range from minor injuries to critical injuries. Trivial injuries include scraped knees while critical injuries entail internal breeding. These injuries are divided into two groups: open wounds and closed wounds. In closed wounds, there are open pathways on the skin. Examples of open wounds include contusion which is an injury to the tissue underlying the skin due to trauma.
Another example is Ecchymosis is which is characterized by discoloration beneath the skin as a result of leakage of blood. Edema involves swelling due to inflammation or fluid accumulation below the skin. Stretching and tearing of muscles will cause a strain. The tearing is as a result of overstretching. A sprain is another type of injury that affects joints. It affects the ligaments either by dislocation or tearing. The most effective way of managing closed wounds is R.I.C.E.R. which involves rest, ice application, and compression, elevation and finally referring to the injured person for treatment.
Open wounds involve breaking the skins leading to exposure of inner tissues. It is divided into laceration characterized by skin cuts with jagged edges, abrasion which involves removal of the skin top layer, avulsion which is the tearing of skin flap from where it was attached, punctures that involve wounds such as piercing from nails, incision which is a smooth cut and amputation which characterized by total or partial detachment of limbs. Management of most of the open wounds involves wound cleansing and dressing in extreme injuries. Serious cases like amputation may require surgery and stitching.
The types of injuries include dislocation and fractures. Fracture is characterized by complete or partial breaking of bones. Bone fractures are classified into two types namely closed and open fractures. Fractures that involve exposures of broken bones are called open fractures while those that do not expose bones are called closed fractures. Management of fractures involves, controlling hemorrhage, treatment for shock, pain reliving, dressing fracture immobilization using a splint, and bandaging or plastering where needed.
References
By the numbers (2010). Musculoskeletal injuries. Diseases, disorders, and injuries relating to bones, joints, and muscles.pp 1-2 https://www.boneandjointburden.org/docs/By%20The%20Numbers%20-%20MSK%20Injuries.pdf
Subhy A. A and Alsheikhly M. S (2018). Musculoskeletal Injuries: types and management protocols for emergency care. pp 1-32. https://www.intechopen.com/books/essentials-of-accident-and-emergency-medicine/musculoskeletal-injuries-types-and-management-protocols-for-emergency-care