How do you know someone has broken a bone?
Broken bones can happen after an accident like a fall, or by being hit by an object. Crushing injuries could also result in fractures. Sometimes fractures can happen when there is repetitive and excessive stress on the bones, these are known as stress fractures. Very occasionally and most often in the elderly, they happen for no real reason, when they are known as ‘pathological fractures’.
Fractures are common injuries onboard ships and most can be prevented by adhering to safe working practices and avoiding over consumption of alcohol.
The 3 most common signs of a broken bone (also known as a fracture) are:
However, it is not always easy to tell whether a bone is broken if it is not out of its normal position and the only way to be sure is an x-ray.
If you've broken a bone:
- You may hear or feel a snap or a grinding noise as the injury happens.
- There may be swelling, bruising or tenderness around the injured area.
- You may feel pain when you put weight on the injury, touch it, press it, or move it.
- The injured part may look deformed – in severe breaks, the broken bone may be poking through the skin.
- You may also feel faint, dizzy or sick as a result of the shock of breaking a bone.
- If the break is small or it's just a crack, you may not feel much pain or even realise that you've broken a bone. Quite often people don't realise until a few days later that something more is going on. This is especially common with injuries where a person has fallen on their outstretched hands.
Get medical help as soon as possible if you think you've broken a bone as you may need to be taken ashore urgently for an x-ray. If you think you may have a small injury such as a broken toe or finger, make sure you report to the person in charge of medical care onboard, they can assist with splinting and pain relief and will also arrange for you to be seen in a minor injury unit or urgent care centre if there is one available in the next port of call.
For a broken arm or leg you will need more urgent assistance and although the injury can be splinted onboard and pain relief administered, it is important to understand the extent of the fracture, whether there is other underlying damage, and to make sure that it will be realigned, with a cast applied to hold it in place. Most fractures will heal well within 6-8 weeks.
It is important that you are also assessed by a physiotherapist after a fracture as they can help strengthen the affected area again by giving you some basic exercises.
If you do not receive the correct treatment, or you are not compliant with your treatment plan, then you could develop a serious infection or a permanent deformity. You may also have long-term problems with your joints. All of these could impact on your future ability to work at sea.
Those of you working on ships with passengers should be aware that older people and those with osteoporosis can have weaker bones and may be liable to breaking them far more easily than a fit healthy crew member. They’re also more likely to be unsteady on their feet, which combined with a moving deck and transfers on and off ship can put them more at risk.
If you’d like to know more about fractures and associated injuries, please check out these previous blogs for more information:
https://www.redsquaremedical.com/when-is-a-bruise-not-just-a-bruise
https://www.redsquaremedical.com/soft-tissue-injury-or-potential-fracture