_Compound Open Fracture._—The bone is broken and the wound extends
from the seat of the fracture to the outside. Such wound may be caused
by the injury itself, or may occur secondarily from the protrusion of
pieces of bone through the skin.
_A comminuted fracture_ is one in which the bone is broken into a
number of fragments.
_An Impacted Fracture._—The broken ends have been forcibly driven into
one another, and are thus fixed.
_Multiple Fracture._—The bone is fractured at different points, or when
different adjoining bones are broken.
_A complicated fracture_ is one associated with a serious injury to
some important adjacent part—_e.g._, a large vessel.
_A green stick or incomplete fracture_ occurs where the bone is soft
and bends, and is only partially fractured; it is most frequent in
children.
=Symptoms= of fractures are usually pain, loss of function, deformity
(seen or felt by passing the fingers over the seat of pain), crepitus
or the grating sound produced and felt on rubbing the broken ends
against each other, abnormal mobility in the course of the bone,
swelling, and discoloration.
The principal point is to keep the part immovable and in a position to
give as little pain as possible. Support the limb with something stiff
and padded with cotton or remnants of yielding material. Bandages can
be made of handkerchiefs, strips of linen, ribbon, etc., to keep the
splint firm.
For the _forearm_ padded splints long enough to take in the hand from
above the elbow should be applied. Tie firmly with bandages and suspend
in a sling.
If the _upper_ arm be fractured, bind it tightly to the side. For the
_thigh_, the splints should extend from under the arm to the ankle
and should be bound to the body and leg with long towels or sheets
torn into strips. A splint made of blankets, rolled up tightly from
both sides on broomsticks, allowing space for the limb to rest between
the supports, is a good and ready appliance. Always make extension to
prevent contractions of the muscles, as this would result in shortening
the leg.
For a broken _clavicle_ (collar-bone) bind the arm to the chest. Put
the patient on the flat of his back with a small pad between the
shoulder-blades. This will keep the broken ends in a normal position.
N. B.—In every case elevate and support the injured member on a pillow,
keep in position and give complete rest until medical aid arrives.