Care of patients with Musculoskeletal and Connective Tissue Disorders

What is a sprain? - partial or complete tearing of the ligaments that hold various bones together to form a joint How does a sprain occur? - when a joint is forced or twisted past its normal range usually during trauma Where are the most common parts a sprain occurs? - ankle, knee, and wrist What is grade 1 of a sprain? - Mild sprain tenderness at site, minimal swelling, and loss of function What is grade 2 of a sprain? - moderate sprain More severe pain, swelling/bleeding into joint, some function lost What is a grade 3 of a sprain? - severe complete tearing of fibers, pain less severe, swelling, loss of function and bleeding into the joint is more marked What is done to rule out a fracture? - physical examination and x-ray What is the treatment for a sprain? - Rest Ice Compression Elevation How long do you apply ice? - 10-20 minutes every hour throughout the day for 24-72 hours Air casts, braces, or supports are used only until a joint has been _______ - strengthened