Examination

The musculoskeletal examination is described in Chapter 20. The key features are to make sure that the patient’s overall condition is stable by checking their airway, breathing and circulation before concentrating on the musculoskeletal injuries. The examination should then be systematic from top to bottom of the body, with complete exposure and care taken to check the patient’s back as well as their front. For each limb, be sure to check the distal circulation and neurogy. Finally, it is important to record these findings.