Fractures Flashcards
Fractures in hip occur in which population? Arms/Legs?
Hip fractures-> age 65 & older
Arms/Legs-> Under 65
Name 4 signs/symptoms of a fracture
1) Visible or palpable deformity
2) Marked pain or local tenderness
3) Ecchymosis or visible bruising
4) Marked functional impairment
Name 3 way fracture classifications
1) Etiology
2) Open vs. closed
3) Pattern of the fracture
Name 3 fracture etiology
1) Trauma
- Direct or indirect force
2) Stress or fatigue fracture
- Secondary abnormal or reptitive forces on normal bone
3) Pathological fracture
- Normal force on an abnormal or weakened bone, secondary to CA, osteoporosis, Paget’s disease, etc.
Describe the difference between closed vs open fractures
1) Closed
- No communication external to body
2) Open
- Communication with fracture site and surface of skin
- Concern re: infection - need antibiotics
- Prophylaxis for tetanus
Classification by pattern of fracture: Name the 2 large categories and all the subcategories within
A) Complete
1) Transverse
2) Oblique
3) Avulsion
4) Spiral
5) Comminuted
B) Incomplete
1) Greenstick
2) Compression
Describe a transverse fracture. It’s usually secondary to direct trauma
- Fracture is at right angle to a long portion of the bone
- Usually secondary to direct trauma
Spiral fracture-Secondary to what?
twisting injury
Spiral fracture-Stable or unstable? What does it need?
- Very unstable
- needs fixation
Oblique fracture-Common or rare? Confined to how many planes? Stable or unstable (needs this)
- Rarer than the other types
- Confined to one plane
- Often unstable-needs fixation
Comminuted fracture-Usually secondary to what?
Significant trauma
Comminuted fracture-Has many or few parts? Stable or unstable?
Has many parts so unstable and requires fixation
Describe avulsion fracture
Fracture caused by excessive pull by a tendon or ligament
Name the 3 types of fractures of 5th metatarsal
1) Stress fracture
2) Jones fracture
3) Avulsion fracture
Where does the stress fracture occur?
Most distal of the three 5th toe fracture
Where does the Jones fracture occur?
At the diaphyseal-metaphyseal junction
Where does the Avulsion fracture occur?
At the base of the 5th metatarsal by excessive pull of the peroneus brevis
Which type of 5th metatarsal fracture is most common?
Avulsion fracture
Describe a greenstick fracture in children
Incomplete fracture of a long bone with cortical disruption on one side – creates a bowing effect
What system is used to classify epiphyseal injuries? How many degrees are there/
- Harris and Salter classification
- 1 through 5
Salter-Harris Type I-What happeens? What does it require? How are the results for healing?
- Epiphyseal slip only
- Requires casting and sometimes pinning
- Usually good result unless there is daage to the blood supply
Salter-Harris Type II-What happens? What does it require? How are the results for healing?
- Fracture through epiphyseal plate with part of shaft attached
- Usually needs fixation
- Good result for healing
Which Salter-Harris type is most common?
Salter-Harris Type II
Salter-Harris Type III-What happens? How are the results for healing?
- Fracture through the epiphysis extending into the plate
- Outlook good only if blood supply is intact and it is not displaced