Bone fractures

Question 1

What is the outer layer of the bone called?

Answer 1

Cortical bone

Question 2

What is the inner/spongy layer of the bone called?

Answer 2

Cancellous bone

Question 3

What are the 4 different shapes of bone?

Answer 3

Long
Short
Flat
Irregular

Question 4

What is a fracture?

Answer 4

A break in the rigid structure of the bone as a result of applied pressure

Question 5

What is a complete fracture?

Answer 5

Where bones are broken into separate pieces

Question 6

What is an incomplete fracture?

Answer 6

Where the cortical bone is partially broken

Question 7

Is an open fracture always considered contaminated or not?

Answer 7

Always considered contaminated

Pts will always require antibiotics

Question 8

What should you of to uncontaminated an open bone fracture?

Answer 8

Only clean off gross contamination,
do not “squirt” lots of saline into the
injury using pressure. This drives
the contaminants further in and
loosens blood clots

Question 9

What is critical skin?

Answer 9

When the skin is comprised and needs ‘reduction’.

Question 10

What is a simple fracture?

Answer 10

Is a single break in a bone where the ends maintain their alignment and position.

Question 11

What are the different types of simple fracture?

Answer 11

Transverse
Oblique
Spiral

Providing there is no displacement

Question 12

What is a segmental fracture?

Answer 12

Is a break where several large bone fragments separate from the main body of fractured bone.

Question 13

What is a comminuted fracture?

Answer 13

Is a break with multiple fractures and small bone pieces/fragments

Question 14

What is a compression fracture?

Answer 14

Is where bone is crushed or collapses into small pieces, more common in vertebrae

Question 15

What is a red flag for a compression fracture?

Answer 15

If a pt has cancer and has experienced acute lower back pain consider spinal cord compression. This is an emergency.

Question 16

What is a depression fracture?

Answer 16

Is found in the skull where a section is broken and pushed inward from an outside impact.

Can be open or closed.

Question 17

What is a red flag for depression fractures in children?

Answer 17

Think deliberate injury if baby is not mobile yet.

Question 18

What is an impacted fracture?

Answer 18

Occurs when one end of the bone is forced into the adjacent bone.

Question 19

What patients are at higher risk of impacted bone fractures?

Answer 19

Pts with degenerative bone conditions such as osteoporosis or long term steroid use.

Question 20

What is a pathological fracture?

Answer 20

Results from a weakness in the bone such as a tumour.

This can be a spontaneous break and not always trauma related.

Question 21

What is a greenstick fracture?

Answer 21

Is always trauma related.
A bending of the bone that has only minimal calcification. Often heals quickly.

Question 22

What is a collet fracture?

Answer 22

A break in the distal radius of the wrist, commonly happens when someone breaks a fall with a hand. Sometimes the ulna is also damaged.

Question 23

What is a potts fracture?

Answer 23

A fracture of the lower fibula due to excessive stress on the ankle, may also damage the tibia.

Often from people stepping down with force.

Question 24

What is a hematoma in a fracture?

Answer 24

When a bone breaks, bleeding occurs from the blood vessels in the bone and periosteum.

This hepatoma forms under the periosteum and between the ends of the bone fragments.

Necrosis occurs at the end of the broken bone because the torn blood vessels are unable to continue delivery of nutrients.

This triggers the immune response causing tissue death and destruction.