Varieties.—Simple fracture means a break of the bone only.
Compound fracture is where the broken bone sticks out through the skin.
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Comminuted is where the bone is broken into small parts.
Impacted is where one part of the broken bone is driven into the other part.
Green stick break. This is not really a break, but only a bending of the bone, seen mostly in children.
Bandages for fractures can be made of muslin. They should be six to eight to twelve yards long for large bones.
Width. For a finger one inch.
For arm or head two and one-half inches.
For the leg three to four inches.
For the body six to eight inches.
An old sheet can be used and the ends of the strips sewed together and then wrapped tight in a roll, with the ravelings from the sides removed. The bandage should be started from the end of the limb, wrapped towards the body. They should not be wrapped so tightly as to shut off circulation,
Padding.—This should be of cotton. In case of necessity, handkerchiefs, towels, pieces of muslin, cloths; hay or grass can be used temporarily.