Expert answer:
The best way to understand the difference between sprain, dislocation, contusion and fracture, is to know the concept of each:
- Sprain: It is the momentary loss of joint congruence (cohesion), caused by an excessive distension of structures that stabilize the joint, such as ligaments. It is caused by sudden movements or trauma that cause a stretch or rupture of the ligaments of the joint;
- Dislocation: It is the total loss of contact between the bones of a joint, caused by the displacement of one of the bones, which can lead to serious injuries to the ligaments. As a result, the bones are poorly positioned, causing joint deformity, difficulty or impossibility of making movements. The dislocation can be total, when the bones are completely separated, or partial (subluxation), when there is still a partial contact between the bones;
- Contusion: A concussion is the result of a blow, a blow. Muscle contusion, for example, occurs when a sudden force of compression strikes the muscle, as in a direct blow;
- Fracture: It can be defined as the loss or rupture of a bone's continuity. In other words, the bone "breaks" and can be divided into two or more fragments. It can be caused by twisting, crushing, trauma, or even spontaneously occurring when bones are weak due to diseases, such as osteoporosis, for example. A fracture can cause an injury to the soft tissues that surround the bone and bring about more serious consequences. When some bone fragment is exposed, an exposed fracture occurs, a particularly serious type of fracture due to the risk of bone infection and injury.
The treatment of all these situations depends on several factors, such as location, intensity, lesion characteristics, age of the patient, among others.
It is up to the orthopedic doctor to diagnose and prescribe appropriate treatment, which may include medication, immobilization, surgery and physical therapy.
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