20.9.4: Articular and physeal fractures Flashcards
Articular fracture
a fracture that involves a joint surface. This type of a fracture will require compression.
Which area of the bone is softest: diaphysis, metaphysis, or epiphysis?
Metaphysis: the transition point between the diaphysis and the physis (growth plate).
* The cortices are thinner
* There is much cancellous bone.
* There is reduced volume to the medullary cavity.
* This renders the bone softer than in other areas.
What is a physeal fracture?
A fracture involving the physis (growth plate)
How can you classify physeal fractures?
- Salter Harris system
- Types I-V
Type I
Just involving the physis
Type II
Physeal fracture and including a small amount of the metaphysis
Type III
Physeal fracture with a small portion of the epiphysis.
Type IV
Fracture through the physis and includes a section of the metaphysis and epiphysis.
Type V
Non-displaced compression of the physis on one side. This can give rise to premature closure of the growth plate and angular limb deformities.
What type of Salter Harris fracture is pictured?
There is no fracture; this is a normal physis (growth plate)
What type of Salter Harris fracture is pictured?
Type I
What type of Salter Harris fracture is pictured?
Type II
What type of Salter Harris fracture is pictured?
Type III
What type of Salter Harris fracture is pictured?
Type IV
What type of Salter Harris fracture is pictured?
Type V
True/false: the development of angular limb deformities after physeal fractures is common.
False
* Angular limb deformities occur when there is premature closure of one side of the physis but the other continues to grow
* Most commonly, when physeal fractures are seen in practice, the entirety of the physis is damaged, so angular limb deformities do not occur.
* The limb may be shorter, but other long bones usually try to compensate or the animal develops an adaptive gait.
What are the types of open fractures?
Describe the difference between open and closed fractures
- Closed fractures = skin is intact.
- Open fractures = skin overlying the fracture is broken.
What are common sites for open fractures?
- In the antebrachium and crus where there is less soft tissue coverage.
- Can also occur in the mandible and maxilla.
What factors affect the likelihood of infection in an open fracture?
- Degree of bone exposure
- Degree of contamination
- Associated tissue damage
- Time since the original injury
Describe the difference between simple and comminuted fractures
- Simple = consists of 2 fragments
- Communited = at least 3 fragments
What type of fracture is this?
Comminuted fracture to the feline humerus
What type of fracture is this?
Simple fracture to the canine humerus
Pathological fracture
Fracture that originates from weakening of the bone by a pathological process e.g. neoplasia, folding fractures in secondary renal hyperparathyroidism
