A joint dislocation occurs when the articulating bones of a joint are displaced from their normal alignment, typically due to high-impact trauma or excessive force. Not to be confused with a sprain, which involves the overstretching or tearing of ligaments without joint displacement. Recognizing the clinical signs of a dislocated joint, such as visible deformity, swelling, and severe pain, is essential for effective management within the context of the Incident Command System (ICS). In EMS contexts, it is commonly framed alongside structured communication and triage concepts such as START (Simple Triage and Rapid Treatment) or SALT (Sort, Assess, Lifesaving interventions, Treatment/Transport) as shared terminology.
Category context: Patient care, assessment, interventions, triage, and EMS system terms commonly used by firefighter/medics.