Dislocation First aid Steps

Healthpind Staff
Medically Reviewed : Dr. Singh , J.P, MBBS, MD, DNB

Dislocation is a common joint injury where the end parts of bones get dislocated from their original positions. It may be caused by shock (car accident, while playing a sport, or a high fall) or weakening muscles and ligaments. Adults usually dislocate their shoulders, whereas children dislocate their elbows.

Bones are joined to one another with the support of ligaments, which play an integral role in the movement of human body parts. These ligaments are joined by a capsule referred to as a ‘joint capsule.’ In Dislocation, stretching or tearing of the ‘joint capsule and ligament’ leads to misalignment of one of the bones. Moreover, this can be easily identified as a deformity, immobility of the affected area, and unbearable pain. If timely not taken care of, the affected part may get locked in an abnormal position.

Signs or symptoms

Signs or symptoms are abnormalities that can help us identify any medical condition. If you think you have got Dislocation while performing an activity or you come across a person who’s also going through the same, below are the following signs you should consider:

Intense or unbearable pain at or near the site of injury
Abnormal Immobility
Deformity
Swelling
Tenderness
Discoloration or Bruising

Tip- A patient needs to clear the doubt between Dislocation, fracture, or inflammation from a specialist and get proper first aid to cure the affected area. A lack of knowledge can increase the severity.

Dislocation First Aid Steps

In Dislocation, providing first aid to the victim is essential until any medical care arrives. Don’t panic! If one deals correctly with this condition, most dislocations return to their ‘normal positions,’ but proper care is required for a full recovery.

Immobility: Hold the injured area in a comfortable position and try not to move to avoid further damage.
Apply an ice pack to the injured area: Apply ice wrapped in a clean cloth to cool the affected area.
Try to Stop the Bleeding: Put pressure in case of an open wound. The bleeding must be stopped as soon as possible by wrapping the injured area with a clean cloth.
Shock Therapy: If the injured person is in shock due to the accident, try to calm their nerves. Wrap them in a blanket, give them some water, and do them to make them feel comfortable.
Special care to children: children often remain curious about doing things; they love to create hustle-bustle around the house. Hence, they are more prone to this problem. Therefore, you should be mindful that this age group’s ‘physical efficacy’ is generally low. In other words, they frequently encounter many accidents while playing or trying new things, resulting in dislocation. Hence, if your kid has this problem, seek medical care immediately.

When to seek medical care?

As mentioned earlier, you must always take medical care assistance. But a few complications for which one should never leave unnoticed are-

Intense tearing of ligaments, muscles, and tendons adjoining the affected area
Blood vessel or Nerve damage near the dislocated joint
The likelihood of severe re-injury if there are excessive or repeated dislocations
Arthritis development in the affected area with an aging

Dislocations of bones or joints are not only troublesome but also extremely painful. Even a minor sprain may result in a fatal dislocation. Get a checkup if you have discomfort in any part of your body after a shock or an accident. Immediate medical attention is the best first aid for dislocation, as it can save you from severe consequences. The leading causes behind Dislocation are:

Sports: Athletics demands excessive physical activity and prompt bodily movement. While doing such ‘hardcore physical activity,’ joints often get dislocated. This commonly occurs in sports like volleyball, gymnastics, etc. Multiple falls may dislocate the joints or bones in the body in such sports. In other games like football and cricket, finger bones or knee joint dislocation occurs.
Accident: Sudden Dislocation of major joints can occur after a shock or unfortunate accident. When a serious accident takes place, a sudden fall is a common thing. As a result, bone dislocation may happen. Dislocation comes about after a strong shock as well. Traumatic experiences with major shocks can suddenly dislocate the bones and joints of the body. However, Dislocation demands special medical assistance, whether out of accident or shock.
Exercise: Exercise is a widely accepted way to stay healthy and fit. But a sudden twist or an uncomfortable movement in ‘exercise’ leads to painful Dislocation of bones. Then, necessary first aid for dislocation must be taken. When we do ‘exercise,’ be it freehand or hardcore, our body moves frequently, and such frequent movements increase the chances of sudden Dislocation.
Hereditary conditions: Sometimes, genetic disorders are also responsible for dislocating bones. Inborn conditions like hypermobility syndrome or Ehlers Danlos Syndrome can cause Dislocation.

Dislocations of bones and joints have certain risk factors, avoiding which we can save ourselves from pain and discomfort.

Repetitive fall: A strong blow or sudden fall is one of the significant risk factors for bone dislocation. We often use our palms or wrists to prevent the impact of any sudden fall, and we are prone to using our hands to resist strong blows. While doing this, there is a significant possibility of bone dislocation.
Genetic cause: Your joints are vulnerable if you possess loose ligaments by birth. Consequently, you may suffer from bone dislocation issues. Loose ligaments cannot hold the joints in the socket, so joints may get dislocated even by a little twist.
Continuous shoulder stress: Shoulder dislocation is one of the most common issues in our body. If constant shoulder stress is troubling you for a long time, you must consult the doctor and seek first aid for dislocation because such long-time stress is a significant risk factor for shoulder dislocation.