Fracture: a break or crack in a bone.

Closed Fracture: fractures in which there is no related external wound.

Open (Compound) Fracture: fractures associated directly with open wounds (the bone may be visible through the wound).

Dislocation: an injury to the connective tissues holding a joint in position that results in displacement of a bone at the joint.

Sprain: an injury to a joint, ligament, or tendon in the region of a joint. It involves partial tearing or stretching of these structures without dislocation or fracture.

What to do: - Before treatment, precautions should be taken to prevent biting injury to the first aid provider. Muzzle and or cover the head of the pet.

- Open fractures should be dressed with a wet dressing applied over the opening and bone.

- If possible, the limb should be immobilized with a splint to prevent further injury. Use any of the following:

- A mountaineering splint (see section on Splints: Rear Limb). - A splint fashioned out newspapers or magazines or coat hangers (see both sections on Splints ). - A splint made of sticks of wood supporting the fracture, fixed in place with tape or cloth.

- Any splint should extend past at least one joint above and one joint below the fracture site.

What NOT to do: - If the splint is difficult to apply or the animal objects, do not attempt splinting. Carefully transport him to a veterinarian.

- Never attempt to set or reduce a fracture or try to push a protruding bone back into position.

A fracture or dislocation or severe sprain may be suspected when the animal suddenly appears lame on a leg, or picks up a leg and won't use it. They may also be suspected following any major fall or blunt injury. Obvious findings of a bone protruding from a wound are rare. What is more common is the unusual angulation or deformation of the fractured area, and swelling. Accurate diagnosis requires the use of x-rays.

An x-ray is the only way to accurately diagnose a fracture

Copyright 1994, by Roger W. Gfeller and Michael W. Thomas. All rights reserved.