What you need to know about dislocation!

Have you ever had an accident like a fall while playing, doing household chores, or walking on the road and suddenly had an arm or leg stuck, unable to move a joint with unbearable pain? Maybe that joint is dislocated. This is a really scary and painful experience for many people. But if you are aware of this, you can do exactly what you need to do without panicking. Let's talk about this simply today.

What exactly is a dislocation?

Simply put, a joint in our body is where two or more bones meet. When the bones that make up this joint slip or move out of their normal position, we call it a dislocation . This condition can occur in any joint in our body. For example, it can happen in large joints like the shoulder, hip , knee, elbow, and ankle, as well as in small joints like the fingers. Imagine, sometimes when there is an accident, the bone does not completely slip out, but only slips a little and then returns to its original position. In medicine, we call this (Subluxation) . This can be a recurring problem for some people. Even if the bone is back in place, you may feel some pain until it does.

What are the symptoms of someone who has sprained a joint?

It's really not easy for someone who has a sprained ankle to avoid it. Because its symptoms are very obvious. Let's look at the common symptoms. This pain continues until the displaced joint is reduced by a trained physician.

How to help someone who has sprained a joint? (First aid)

If someone in your area is in an accident like this, you can help without panicking and carefully. Here are the steps to follow.

• Keep calm: First, calm the person in danger. Don't move them.
• Cover the wound : If a bone has broken and is protruding through the skin, cover the wound with a sterile bandage to prevent germs from entering.
• Immobilize: Keep the injured joint in place and immobilize it with a splint or sling. Remember, you want to immobilize both the top and bottom of the joint.
• Check blood circulation : After the splint is applied, check for proper blood circulation in the area below the joint (e.g., the fingers on the hand). (Check to see if the fingers are blue or cold).
• Apply ice: Wrap an ice pack in a towel and apply it to the area to reduce pain and swelling.
• Prevent shock: Lay the patient on the floor with their legs raised about 12 inches (do not do this if the wound is in an area such as the hip or leg). Cover them with a blanket or clothing to keep them warm.
• Get medical help immediately: Take him to the nearest hospital's Emergency Department (ETU) as soon as possible. If the wound cannot be immobilized properly, take him to a hospital immediately without further delay.

Never make these mistakes!

Going to help and not knowing how to do it can cause further harm to the patient. So never do these things.

• Do not move the patient unless the injury is properly immobilized. Especially if there is a suspicion of an injury to the head, neck, or spine.
• If the wound is in the hip, pelvis , or thigh, do not move the patient unless absolutely necessary. If you absolutely must, grab the clothing and pull gently.
• Do not give anything to eat or drink by mouth, as anesthesia may be required for treatment at the hospital.

The most important thing is, never try to put a dislocated joint back into place! Doing so can cause serious damage to the joint, the surrounding muscles, ligaments, blood vessels, and nerves. This should only be done by a trained doctor.

How does the doctor treat it?

When you go to the hospital, the doctor will first examine the wound, often taking an X-ray to confirm the condition, and then begin treatment.

• Reduction: Your doctor will put your dislocated bone back in its original position. If there is a lot of pain and swelling, a local anesthetic may be injected to numb the area. Sometimes, a general anesthetic may be necessary.
• Immobilization: After the joint is put back in place, a sling or splint is used to immobilize it until it heals. This may be used for several weeks, depending on the nature of the injury.
• Rehabilitation: After the joint has healed, the doctor may recommend physical therapy to strengthen the muscles around it and restore movement to the joint.
• Surgery: Some joints, such as the shoulder, knee, and ankle, are more likely to dislocate again. If the ligaments are weak and the joint dislocates frequently, surgery may be necessary to strengthen it.

Take-Home Message

• Dislocation is a serious condition that requires emergency medical treatment.
• Never try to put a dislocated joint back into place yourself. This can cause serious damage.
• Keep the injured joint immobile and apply ice to reduce pain and swelling.
• Take the patient to a hospital's Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) as soon as possible.
• After treatment, follow your doctor's instructions for rest and physical therapy exactly. This is very important to prevent the joint from slipping again.

dislocation, joint pain, first aid, fracture, shoulder dislocation, emergency treatment

👩🏽‍⚕️ Additional questions (FAQs)

💬 What is a dislocation or a bone dislocation?

A dislocation is when a bone suddenly slips out of place at a joint where two bones in our body meet. Most often, it is the joints of the shoulder, knee, or finger that suddenly slip out of place.

💬 How do you recognize a broken joint? What are the symptoms?

As soon as a joint pops, there is unbearable pain. It also suddenly swells, turns blue, takes on a strange shape, as if an arm or leg has popped out, and you can't move it at all.

💬 What should you do at home when you cross a junction?

Never try to put it back in place by yourself! Doing so can cause serious damage to the nerves. Don't move it, put some ice on it, and take it to the hospital immediately.