Regional Emergency Medical Advisory Committee of New York City
Prehospital Basic Life Support Protocols
Copyright January 1996 (8/96)

425 BONE AND JOINT INJURIES

Monitor the airway.

Administer oxygen, if appropriate.

Control external bleeding.

Avoid excessive pressure over injury sites.

Assess for shock and treat, if appropriate. (See Protocol #415.)

Manually stabilize the injury.

Cover protruding bones and associated wounds with dry, sterile dressings.

Immobilize the injury.

NOTE:CHECK FOR PERIPHERAL (DISTAL) PULSES, MOTOR FUNCTION, AND SENSATION IN THE INJURED EXTREMITY BEFORE AND AFTER IMMOBILIZATION.

Angulated long bone deformities should be straightened, provided resistance is not felt, into a splintable position.

Joints above and below the deformity should be immobilized.

A deformed joint should be immobilized in the position found, unless it cannot be effectively immobilized in this position.

A traction splint is the splint of choice for all isolated femur fractures.

Elevate the injury site, if possible.

NOTE:SPLINTING SHOULD NOT DELAY TRANSPORT OF THE CRITICAL OR UNSTABLE PATIENT.


Transport. (See Appendix F.)

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