angulated fracture
fracture in which the broken bone segments are at an angle to each other.
bones
hard but flexible living structures that provide support for the body and protection to vital organs.
cartilage
tough tissue that covers the joint ends of bones and helps to form certain body parts such as the ear.
closed extremity injury
an injury to an extremity with no associated opening in the skin.
comminuted fracture
a fracture in which the bone is broken in several places.
compartment syndrome
injury caused when tissues such as blood vessels and nerves are constricted within a space as from swelling or from a tight dressing or cast.
crepitus
a grating sensation or sound made when fractured bone ends rub together.
dislocation
the disruption or "coming apart" of a joint.
extremities
the portions of the skeleton that include the clavicles, scapulae, arms, wrists, and hands (upper extremities) and the pelvis, thighs, legs, ankles, and feet (lower extremities).
fracture
any break in a bone.
greenstick fracture
an incomplete fracture.
joints
places where bones articulate, or meet.
ligament
tissue that connects bone to bone.
manual traction
the process of applying tension to straighten and realign a fractured limb before splinting. Also called tension.
muscles
tissues or fibers that cause movement of body parts and organs.
open extremity injury
an extremity injury in which the skin has been broken or torn through from the inside by an injured bone or from the outside by something that has caused a penetrating wound with associated injury to the bone.
sprain
the stretching and tearing of ligaments.
strain
muscle injury resulting from overstretching or overexertion of the muscle.
tendons
tissue that connects muscle to bone.
traction splint
a splint that applies constant pull along the length of a lower extremity to help stabilize the fractured bone and to reduce muscle spasm in the limb. Traction splints are used primarily on femoral shaft fractures.