Dislocation Health Article

Definition

A dislocation is a separation of two bones where they meet at a joint. (Joints are areas where two bones come together.) A dislocated bone is no longer in its normal position. A dislocation may also cause ligament or nerve damage.

Alternative Names

Joint dislocation

Considerations

It may be hard to tell a dislocated bone from a broken bone. Both are emergency situations and require the same first-aid treatment. Injuries to the surrounding ligaments generally take 3 to 6 weeks to heal.

Causes

Dislocations are usually caused by a sudden impact to the joint. This usually occurs following a blow, fall, or other trauma.

Symptoms

A dislocated joint may be:

• Visibly out-of-place, discolored, or misshapen
• Limited in movement
• Swollen or bruised
• Intensely painful, especially if you try to use the joint or bear weight on it

Nursemaid's elbow is a partial dislocation common in toddlers. The main symptom is refusal to use the arm. Nursemaid's elbow can be easily treated in a doctor's office without the following first aid steps.

First Aid

1. Call 911 before you begin treating someone who may have a dislocation, especially if the accident causing the injury may be life-threatening.
2. If there has been a serious injury, check the person's airway, breathing, and circulation. If necessary, begin rescue breathing, CPR, or bleeding control.
3. Do not move the person if you think that his head, back, or leg has been injured. Keep the person still. Provide reassurance.
4. If the skin is broken, take steps to prevent infection. Do not blow on the wound. Rinse the area gently to remove obvious dirt, but do not scrub or probe. Cover the area with sterile dressings before immobilizing the injury.
5. Splint or sling the injury in the position in which you found it. Do not move the joint. Be sure to immobilize the area above and below the injured joint.
6. Check the person's blood circulation around the injury by pressing firmly on the skin in the affected area. It should blanch white, then regain color within a couple of seconds.
7. Apply ice packs to ease pain and swelling.
8. Take steps to prevent shock. Unless there is a head, leg, or back injury, lay the victim flat, elevate the feet about 12 inches, and cover the person with a coat or blanket.