1b Management of Specific Fractures Flashcards
What should you assess when assessing a fracture?
Pain
Swelling
Crepitus
Deformity
Collateral Damage = nerve / vessel
What investigations can be done to see a fracture?
XR
CT
MRI
What are the two types of fractures which describe the number of pieces the fracture has?
simple / multi-fragmentary
What are the three types of fractures which describe the pattern of fracture?
Transverse / oblique / spiral
What is translation?
Movement of the fracture in the lateral or medial direction
What is angulation?
When the fracture moves to become valgus / varus deformed
What are the two different types of fracture healing?
Direct fracture healing and indirect
What is the difference between direct and indirect fracture healing?
Direct fracture healing
Anatomical reduction
Absolute stability/compression
No callus
Indirect fracture healing
Sufficient reduction
Micromovement
Callus
What are the three main steps of indirect fracture healing?
Inflammation
Repair
Remodelling
What are the cells involved in the inflammation part of indirect fracture healing?
Neutrophils
Macrophages
What does the inflammation part of indirect fracture healing involve?
Haematoma formation
Release of cytokines
Granulation tissue and blood vessel formation
What happens in the repair phase of indirect fracture healing?
- Soft callus formation
- Hard callus formation
What type of collagen is the soft callus made from?
Type II collagen - cartilage
What type of collage is the hard callus made from?
Type I collagen = bone
Explain what happens in the remodelling stage of fracture healing
Callus responds to activity, external forces, functional demands and growth
Excess bone is removed
What is Wolff’s Law?
Bone grows in response to forces which are placed on it
What mechanism does primary bone healing occur through?
Intramembranous healing
Occurs when the bone is fixed in placed, when the ends of the fracture are anatomically aligned and there is absolute stability, so there is no need for a callus to form
What mechanism does secondary bone healing occur through?
Endochondral healing
Occurs in response to the periosteum and external soft tissues
From what stage in the healing process can visible signs of healing be seen?
Signs of healing visible on XR from 7-10 days
How is secondary bone healing (indirect) done?
Place an intramedullary nail through the bone to hold them in place and allow the callus to form
What is the range of time in which it takes for a fracture to heal?
3-12 weeks
What are the general principles of fracture management?
Reduce
Hold
Rehabilitate
What are the two methods of reducing fractures?
Open / closed - hold the bone in place, just a matter of whether you open the skin to do so
What are the methods of holding in fracture management?
plaster
external fixation
internal fixation
What are the methods of internal fixation?
Intra or extra medullary fixation
What are the types of external fixation?
Monoplanar / multiplanar