18 – Fracture Healing Assessment Flashcards
1
Q
What are the three A’s of assessment of repair and healing?
A
- Alignment and reduction (or apposition)
- Apparatus
- Activity
o How is the animal using the limb?
o How is the fracture healing?
2
Q
Reduction
A
- How well the pieces fit together
- If good=barely see a fracture line
3
Q
A
4
Q
What influences fracture healing?
A
- Nature of the fracture
- Location of the fracture
- Bone that is fractured
- Degree of soft tissue disruption
- Strain and motion at fracture site
- Type of healing affects speed at which strength returns
- Limb use (use it or lose it)
- Species
- Age
5
Q
Location of fracture: diaphysis vs. metaphysis
A
- Metaphysis has more blood supply=easier to heal than diaphysis
6
Q
Strain and motion at fracture site
A
- A little axial tension or compression promotes bone healing
- Too much tension is bad
- Any torsion at all is terrible
- *shear and torsion is always bad
- Too LITTLE strain is also BAD
7
Q
What are the guidelines for uncomplicated fracture healing expectations (dogs and cats)?
A
- 2-5 months old: 2-4 weeks
- 6-12 months old: 4-8 weeks
- Adult: 6-10 weeks
- Geezer: 12-16 weeks
8
Q
What does radiographic union: primary (direct) healing look like?
A
- Disappearance of fracture line
9
Q
What does radiographic union: secondary (indirect) healing look like?
A
- Bridging callus on at least 3 out of 4 cortices
10
Q
Radiographic vs. clinical union
A
- First resorption of dead bone occurs
- In adults: takes 6 weeks for callus to mineralize
- Feel for fracture getting ‘sticky’
