Open Fracture Question

• Previous message: Open Fracture Question
• Next message: Open Fracture Question
• Messages sorted by: [ date ] [ thread ] [ subject ] [ author ]

At 06:20 AM 9/12/2003, you wrote:
>Looking for the latest wisdom, as I may not be current:
>
>At the scene of injury, EMS identifies an open extremity fracture with no 
>distal circulation.  Should the medic attempt reduction to improve perfusion?
>
>Assume a dirty wound, and a time-to-orthopod of up to 4 hours (arbitrary, 
>but meant to reflect our rural climes).

Pret:

PHTLS (Pre-Hospital Trauma Life Support) 5th Edition recommends one or two 
attempts to realign a fracture in the event there is no distal 
circulation.  They also suggest that an open fracture can be reduced to 
limit pain, and that if the open fracture re-enters tissue, the EMT should 
simply make the physician aware of this.  (pages 242-244.)

Naturally, in the setting of other, more serious injuries (Head, Thorax, or 
Abdomen) the fractured extremity drops rapidly in the list of priorities.


Best,

Jeff Brosius
Paramedic, etc.
Denver, CO
"...forbear to deliver them that
are drawn unto death." Proverbs 24:11 (NIV)
**Outgoing e-Mail scanned for viruses by Norton Anti-Virus**  

• Previous message: Open Fracture Question
• Next message: Open Fracture Question
• Messages sorted by: [ date ] [ thread ] [ subject ] [ author ]