Adult Regional Trauma Flashcards
When spinal shock occurs, loss of motor function and sensation occurs above the level of the injury. True/False?
False
BELOW the level of the injury
What normal body reflex is absent in spinal shock?
Bulbocavernous reflex
Describe complete spinal cord injury
No sensory or voluntary motor function below level of injury
Describe incomplete spinal cord injury
Some neurologic function present distal to level of injury
The presence of sacral spinal cord sparing in spinal cord injury indicates a better prognosis. True/False?
True
Pelvic fractures are more common in which age groups?
Young patients (high energy) Old patients (osteoporosis)
Name the bones that form the pelvic ring
Sacrum
Ilium
Ischium
Pubic bones
How is the pelvic ring like a polo mint?
If it breaks in one place, it will inevitably break in another part
What happens in lateral compression fracture of pelvis? Give an example
One half of pelvis is displaced medially
e.g. RTA
What happens in vertical shear fractures of the pelvis? Give an example
One half of pelvis is displaced superiorly
e.g. fall from height
What happens in anteroposterior compression injury of the pelvis? Give an example
Disruption of pubic symphysis (open-book-pelvis)
e.g. motorcycle accident
What neurovascular structures are at risk in pelvic fractures?
Branches of internal iliac artery
Venous plexus
Lumbo-sacral plexus
A PR exam is mandatory in pelvic fractures. True/False?
True
Assess sacral nerve root function, check blood
What is the most common mechanism of injury in proximal humerus fractures?
Low energy osteoporotic injury due to FOOSH
Which part of the proximal humerus is most commonly fractured?
Surgical neck
In which direction does the humeral shaft usually displace in proximal humerus fractures?
Medially (due to pull of pectoralis major)
What is the mainstay treatment for proximal humerus fractures?
Sling immobilisation
Internal fixation if recurrent displacement
Which direction of shoulder dislocation is most common?
Anterior
What is a Bankart lesion?
Anterior shoulder dislocation causes detachment of glenoid labrum and capsule
What is a Hill-Sachs lesion?
Posterior humeral head impacts anterior glenoid, causing impaction fracture of posterior humeral head
Which nerve is at risk in shoulder dislocation?
Axillary nerve
Also other nerves of brachial plexus
What is the characteristic sign on XRAY in posterior shoulder dislocation?
Lightbulb sign
What is the principle sign of axillary nerve injury?
Loss of sensation in badge-patch area
What is the mainstay of treatment for anterior shoulder dislocation?
Closed reduction under sedation/anaesthetic
Sling 2-3wks
Physio
Describe the relationship between risk of recurrent shoulder dislocation and age of the patient
Patients under 20yrs have 80% risk of re-dislocation; patients over 30yrs have 20% risk
What is involved in Bankart repair?
Reattach torn labrum and capsule via arthroscopy/open repair
How do injuries of the ACJ usually occur?
Fall onto the point of the shoulder
In subluxation of the ACJ, what is usually ruptured?
Acromioclavicular ligaments
In dislocation of the ACJ, what is usually ruptured?
Coracoclavicular ligaments
Up to how many degrees of angulation are accepted in humeral shaft fractures? Why?
30’
Mobility of shoulder and elbow joint aid union
Which nerve is susceptible to injury in humeral shaft fractures? What pathology can damage to this nerve cause?
Radial nerve
Wrist drop + loss of sensation in first dorsal web space
How are intraarticular fractures generally treated?
ORIF (open reduction, internal fixation)
Describe the usual mechanism of injury in olecranon fractures
Fall onto the point of the elbow + contraction of triceps
Most elbow dislocations occur in which direction?
Posteriorly
The forearm acts as a ring because of the tight ligaments around the radio-ulnar joints. What significance does this have in fractures? (psst, think about polo mints)
If one bone fractures, there is usually a fracture in the other bone as well
What is a nightstick fracture?
Fracture of the ulnar shaft