Chapter 4: Common Diseases and Disorders

Question 1

What is a Fracture?

Answer 1

A break that occurs in any bone.

Question 2

What is a Closed Fracture?

Answer 2

The broken bone doesn’t break the skin.

Question 3

What is an Open Fracture (Compound Fracture)?

Answer 3

Ends of the broken bone tear through the skin (higher risk of infection).

Question 4

What is a Hairline Fracture?

Answer 4

The bone breaks in a thin crack.

Question 5

What is a Greenstick Fracture?

Answer 5

The bone bends and splinters instead of breaking into separate pieces.

Question 6

What is a Commuted Fracture?

Answer 6

The bone breaks or crushed into three or more pieces.

Question 7

What is a Pathologic Fracture?

Answer 7

The bone breaks in an area weakened by another disease process.

Question 8

What is a Spiral Fracture?

Answer 8

The bone breaks from a twisting motion.

Question 9

What is a Stress Fracture?

Answer 9

A small crack in a bone caused by overuse and repetitive activity.

Question 10

What is a Transverse Fracture?

Answer 10

The break goes in a straight line across the bone.

Question 11

What can lead to Herniation of a disc?

Answer 11

Too much wear and tear on spinal discs.

Question 12

What is the Herniation of a disc?

Answer 12

The outer covering is weakened or torn and the soft inner tissue extrudes.

Question 13

How does Herniated Discs can cause leg pain or weakness?

Answer 13

If the disc presses on a nerve root.

Question 14

What happens if conservative treatment with pain and anti-inflammatory medication fails?

Answer 14

Surgery may be needed to remove the protruding disc material or to connect two vertebrae together.

Question 15

What is Osteoarthritis?

Answer 15

A common type of Arthritis with a gradual loss of cartilage form the joints.

Question 16

What is one of the strongest risk factor for developing Osteoarthritis?

Answer 16

Advancing age.

Question 17

Osteoarthritis is often referred to as?

Answer 17

Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD) or “wear and tear” arthritis.

Question 18

What can relieve symptoms of Osteoarthritis?

Answer 18

Medications.

Question 19

Replacing worn or damaged joints, such as the knees and hips, with prosthetic implants are commonly performed procedures known as?

Answer 19

Total Knee Replacement (TKR) and Total Hip Replacement (THR).

Question 20

Osteoporosis is a metabolic bone disorder that leads to?

Answer 20

The loss of bone mass causing bones to weaken and fracture.

Question 21

The spontaneous collapse of weakened vertebrae can cause pathologic fractures of?

Answer 21

The spine with resulting pain, height loss, and possible permanent disability.

Question 22

Why is surgery often recommended for Osteoporosis?

Answer 22

To stabilize the spine and reduce the pain.

Question 23

What are the primary risk factors for Osteoporosis?

Answer 23

Gender (female), age, family history, use of medications, smoking and sedentary lifestyle.

Question 24

What are the treatments of Osteoporosis?

Answer 24

Calcium and vitamin D, exercise and medications to help reduce bone loss.

Question 25

What is Spinal Stenosis?

Answer 25

A condition in which the vertebral canal narrows.

Question 26

What causes when the Vertebral Canal narrows?

Answer 26

Causes impingement of the spinal cord resulting in pain down the buttocks, thighs and lower legs.

Question 27

Most often Spinal Stenosis is a result of?

Answer 27

Aging.

Question 28

What happens when a conservative treatment with medications and physical therapy do not work to alleviate the pain of Spinal Stenosis?

Answer 28

Surgery such as Laminectomy or Spinal Fusion may be necessary.