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Limbs

Authoring team

The examination of the limbs in the secondary survey should include:

  • looking for:
    • bruising
    • deformity
  • feeling for:
    • tenderness
    • crepitus as bone rubs against bone
    • pulses; an absent pulse, particularly when associated with pallor, paraesthesia, pain and paralysis, is likely to indicate arterial obstruction in need of urgent intervention
  • moving all relevant joints to determine their range of movement

Suspicion of fracture or dislocation should initiate X-ray films of the affected bone in at least two perpendicular planes.

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The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

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