Our skeletal system is an engineering marvel composed of 206 bones, which give the body stability and protection. But strong physical force, a wrong angle or a direct blow may cause the continuity of the bone to be interrupted – And it hurts exactly as it sounds. Fractures are among the most common injuries in emergency medicine, and the initial treatment in the field is critical to prevent secondary damage: Injury to blood vessels, nerves or soft tissues by the sharp ends of the bone.
In 2026, the treatment protocol in the field focuses on one simple principle: "Minimum movement, maximum stability". The attempt to be heroes and straighten a crooked leg may turn a moderate injury into a lifelong disability.
How Do We Identify A Fracture?
Not every painful blow is a fracture, but in the absence of an X-ray, we must treat any suspicious injury as a fracture ("Suspected fracture") until proven otherwise. The classic signs include:
- Severe pain that worsens with any attempt to move the limb.
- Swelling and bruising: The area becomes red, bluish and swells quickly.
- Change in shape (deformity): The limb appears crooked, shortened or at an unnatural angle.
- Limitation in movement: The injured person is unable to move the injured limb.
The Iron Rules For Treating A Closed Fracture
A closed fracture is a condition in which the bone has broken but the skin remains intact. Dial 101 to MDA, put the call on speaker and provide your location. Let the injured person sit or lie in the position most comfortable for them.
The goal is to prevent movement of the broken limb. If you are not certified medics, do not try to build complex splints. The best immobilization is immobilization to the body itself or to a stable surface:
In the arm: Support the injured arm with the injured person’s healthy hand or with an improvised sling (shirt, scarf) and attach it to the chest.
In the leg: Ask the injured person not to move the leg. You may place pillows or rolled blankets on both sides of the leg to prevent involuntary movement.
Absolute prohibition: Never try to straighten the limb, pull it or return a bone to its place. Such an action may tear arteries and nerves.
Cooling the area: You may place an ice pack wrapped in a towel (Not directly on the skin!) on the swollen area to ease pain and reduce inflammation. 15 minutes at a time.
Removing jewelry: If the fracture is in the hand or fingers, try to carefully remove rings and watches immediately after the injury. Within minutes the area will swell and the jewelry will become a dangerous tourniquet that will be difficult to cut.
The Nightmare: An Open Fracture
An open fracture is a medical emergency in which the end of the bone has torn the skin and broken through it. The danger here is double: Severe infection in the bone and blood loss. This is what you need to do:
Stopping the bleeding: This is the most urgent thing. Apply indirect pressure or use a tourniquet if the bleeding is massive. Avoid direct pressure on the protruding bone itself.
Sterile covering: Place a sterile dressing or a clean wet cloth over the exposed bone to prevent infection.
Do not push it back in! Under no circumstances should you try to push the bone back into the body.
In any emergency situation you must call MDA at 101, provide accurate address details, keep the dispatcher on speaker and act according to their instructions.