I am in India and a friend had a motorcycle accident- the hospital sent him him back to hotel with an elastic girdle type thing around his mid-section and a sling for his arm. From the x-rays, it doesn't appear to have been re-set. Is this normal? Will the bones just find each other as they heal or will they heal crooked?
2006-11-29 22:53:28 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ General Health Care ➔ Injuries
broken ribs don't generally need to be fixed with nails only in severe cases where hte ribs have been displaced. As you say the bones knd of find each other and grow towards each other as long as there is not excessive movement at the site! he should keep the sling on for bout 4-6 weeks!
2006-11-29 22:58:20 · answer #1 · answered by tulip 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Hi,
Unfortunately there is not much to be done about broken ribs. The elastic girdle will hold the ribs and help to stabilize them. As for the collar bone, usually a figure eight brace is use to pull the bone up, back and align it in its natural position. Unfortunately it hurts like hell. My son broke his collar bone and he had a figure eight brace. He could not wear it because of the pain. I let him take it off and he mended fine. Also, if they gave him narcotic pain medication that is fine. A break is an inflammatory injury meaning that the tissue and muscles surrounding the broken bones get red and swollen. I gave my son Ibuprofen(Motrin) for his pain and it seemed to help more than the narcotic pain meds did.
Good luck and hope your friend gets better soon.
2006-11-30 07:05:16 · answer #2 · answered by Only hell mama ever raised 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I dont know about the ribs but when I seperated my clavicle from my scapula (called a seperated shoulder) I was only given a sling. It healed fine in several weeks. It hurts but it isn't really a serious injury. I lost no range of motion.
2006-11-30 07:01:43 · answer #3 · answered by Average Joe 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That's pretty much what they do for this type of injury.Be careful with the wrap and go back to the doctor if he gets any shortness of breath or coughing up blood. Not much to do except lay back and let your body.
a bored night shift x-ray tech
2006-11-30 06:59:36 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
if he follows his doctor's advice and uses his sling he should have no problem
2006-11-30 06:57:16 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋