Musculoskeletal Injuries

Initial Assessment & Management

Signs and Symptoms of Acute MSK Injury

An acute injury is a new injury or a new episode of an old injury. When managing these
injuries, you should consider the following.

Management of Acute MSK Injury

Acute MSK injuries will be painful, often swell and will limit use. Best practice is to apply
the GUIDELINES below for any acute injury, with the aim of preventing swelling,
reducing pain and speed up healing.

GUIDELINES MISSING FROM FILE

 

Pain Relief

PARACETAMOL
Is a good, safe drug for pain relief (analgesia).
NSAIDS (NON-STEROIDAL ANTI-INFLAMMATORY DRUGS)
Ibuprofen and Diclofenac are no better for pain relief in most MSK injuries than
Paracetamol and have a higher side-effect profile. NSAIDs have other properties that
can be useful in some MSK injuries (when it is beneficial to modulate the inflammatory
response).
and remember..NO NSAIDs on an empty stomach
This table will help you to select the most appropriate pain relief:

Advanced Assessment & Management

CASEVAC Decision Points

Factors that you should consider before requesting a CASEVAC:

General Advice

Each section has specific exercise advice for that injured part of the body.