Fractures Flashcards
What is a pathologic fracture?
- fractures that result from mild physical exertion or minor trauma (e.g. coughing/sneezing, lifting)
- occur due to abnormal / weakened bone structure due to underlying pathology e.g. osteoporosis
*these fractures would not normally occur - in a healthy bone
What are the complications of open fractures?
- infection
- poor wound healing
Two types of basic management of bone #
A. Conservative (splint, cast)
B. Surgery (anatomic reduction -> fixation -> immobilisation)
Complications of surgery for the #
- acute nerve
- vascular injury
- compartment syndrome
- avascular necrosis
- nonunion
The common type of long bone #
Complete vs incomplete fracture
What do they mean?
Complete: # that extends through the entire length of bone
What does comminuted fracture mean?
More than two fracture lines - results in multiple bone fragments
Types of fracture displacement
What’s segmental #?
Two fracture lines with a fragment of a bone between a distal and proximal portion of the bone
What’s a Salter-Harris fracture?
A paediatric fracture with a growth plate involvement
What’s a stress fracture?
A # caused by repetitive stress to the bone without an underlying bone pathology/ disease affecting it
What happens to the radius and ulna in Colle’s fracture?
distal radius +/- ulna
*due to fall on ‘outstretched’ hands
What’s Smith’s #?
Fracture of distal radius (anterior displacement)
Possible clinical presentation of the fractures
- Pain, redness, and swelling at the site of injury
- Deformity and axis deviation
- Bone fragments penetrating the skin
- Palpable step-off or gap
- Bone crepitus
- Concomitant soft tissue injuries
- Neurovascular compromise below site of injury
Features of:
Montaeggia vs Galeazzi fractures
What bone is typically located in ‘boxer #’? (punching a hard surface)
5th metacarpal neck
Scaphoid fracture
- what bone is involved
- typical Hx
- examination features
- the most common # of a carpal bone
- typical Hx: fall on outstretched hands
- examination features: pain when a pressure applied to anatomical ‘snuffbox’
What’s Garden’s classification used for?
Categorisation of intracapsular neck of femur fractures
Types of hip fractures
A. Intracapsular
B. Extracapsular
Treatment of intracapsular hip fracture
*intracapsular - danger of avascular necrosis and non- union
Treatment:
- internal fixation
- hip arhtoplasty
Treatment of extracapsular hip fracture
Hip screw + rehab
What # is that?
A. Palmar angulation of distal bone fragments
B. Dorsal angulation of distal bone fragments
A. Palmar -> Colle’s
B. Dorsal -> Smith’s
