Traumatology Flashcards
(241 cards)
Define open fracture
Direct communication between fracture and environment due to traumatic
disruption of soft tissue and skin.
Increased risk in open fracture
Higher incidence of infection; up to 10% develop acute compartment syndrome.
Classification of open fractures?
- Gustilo Anderson classification
- according to site: Direct/ indirect or according to force: High force/Low force
5 things to do in open fracture treatment
(1) Immobilization
(2) Antibiotics IV
(3) Tetanus prophylaxis as indicated
(4) Irrigation and debridement
(5) Analgesia
3 things deciding management of open fracture
- degree and extent of ST damage
- degree of wound contamination
- underlying health of patient
recommended AB in open would fractures
- Class I-II → cefazolin
- Class III → gentamycin or ceftriaxone
- Soil contamination → metronidazole (Clostridium coverage).
- Seawater contamination → piperacillin/tazobactam (Pseudomonas)
- Freshwater contamination → doxycycline (Vibrio species).
what is used in irrigation of open fracture wound?
isotonic saline solution
Type I - 3L
Type II - 6L
Type III - 9L
acute complications ass with open fractures
Arterial injury
Nerve injury
Fracture blisters
Compartment syndrome
Thromboembolic disease
Fat emboli syndrome
what is the triad of fat emboli syndrome
Hypoxemia
Neurological abnormalities
Petechial rash
Non acute complications of open fracture
Osteomyelitis or infectious arthritis
Nonunion or malunion
Post-traumatic arthritis
3 R’s basis of fracture management
Reduction
Retention
Rehabilitation
how to cover the bone in open fractures
temporary muscle flap with artificial skin
or temporary skin graft
what is osteomyelitts
An infection of the bone. Most commonly caused by Staphylococcus aureus.
to do with the wound in an open fracture
- Remove visible foreign bodies and debris.
- Irrigate wound with sterile saline.
- Cover with moist, sterile dressing.
Aim of fracture treatment
o To regain and maintain the normal alignment
o To regain normal function
o To achieve the above objectives for the patient in the shortest time possible
physical examination of fractures
PMS
Puls: most distal puls
Motor: move fingers and toes (dont force!)
Sensation: sensory function distal to fracture
what can an XR tell us about the fracture
o Localize fracture, number of fragments.
o Degree of displacement, angulation, rotation
o Pre-existing diseases in bone.
o Foreign bodies or air in tissues.
Fracture treatment: Traction
Application of a pulling force on fracture to help realign shortened, angulated, and/or displaced fractures.
Short-term traction: a component of many closed reduction techniques.
Long-term traction devices (using braces, pulleys, and/or weights) can be used for immobilization in both conservative and postsurgical fracture management.
Fracture treatment: open reduction
Allows for very accurate reduction, since it is under direct visualization.
indication of open reduction: NO CAST
o Non-union
o Open fracture
o Compromised neurovascular
o Intra-Articular fracture
o Salter-Harris 3,4,5
o Poly-Trauma
o Other: failed closed reduction, not able to cast or apply traction due to
site (e.g. hip fracture), pathologic fracture, potential for improved function with ORIF
Fracture treatment: retention
Holds the fracture stable and still
1. External fixation
2. Internal fixation
External fixation types
Cast
Splint
Continuous traction
External fixator
indications for an external fixator
factures which are too unstable for a cast or to preserve remaining blood supply.
Define internal fixation
Attached to the side of the bone or inserted through the bone.
* Intramedullary fixations: nails, rods, screws
* Extramedullary fixations: screws, plates, wires
* Percutaneous pinning