Case 4: Female with Sports Injury Flashcards
Compartment syndrome
Complication of extremity trauma due to rising pressure in muscle compartment that impairs perfusion to that same muscle compartment
Causes of compartment syndrome
Fractures
Crush injuries
Burns
Arterial injuries
Treatment of compartment syndrome
Emergent decompression via fasciotomy
6 P’s of compartment syndrome
Pain - earliest sign Pallor Pulselessness Paresthesia (itching, tingling) - most reliable sign Perishing cold Paralysis
Significant ankle injury features
- immediate presentation
- unable to weight bear (bearing weight = able to take 4 steps independently)
- history of previous ankle sprain
Hearing a snap or a tear is diagnostic of
Knee injury (not ankle)
Characteristics considered when grading an ankle sprain
- presence/absence of ligament tear
- loss of functional ability
- severity of pain
- presence/severity of swelling
- presence of ecchymosis
- difficulty bearing weight (limited ability in taking 4 steps)
Grade 1 ankle sprain: stretching or small tear of ligament
- mild tenderness + swelling
- mild or no functional loss
- no mechanical instability
- no excessive stretching or opening of joint w stress
Grade 2 ankle sprain: incomplete tear
- tenderness
- mild/moderate pain, swelling, ecchymosis
- some loss of motor function
- mild/moderate instability
- stretching of joint w stress with definite stopping point
Grade 3 ankle sprain: complete tear + loss of integrity of ligament
- severe swelling (> 4 cm about the fibula)
- ecchymosis
- can’t bear weight
- mechanical instability
- stretching of joint w stress without definite stopping point
Mechanisms of injury of ankle sprains
a) plantar flexion and inversion (most common)
b) excessive eversion and dorsiflexion
Damaged structures in plantar flexion/inversion ankle sprain
Lateral stabilizing ligaments
- anterior talofibular (most easily injured)
- calcaneofibular (if injured = instability)
- posterior talofibular (rarely injured)
Ankle anterior drawer test
Used to assess integrity of anterior talofibular ligament
Ankle inversion stress test
Used to assess integrity of calcaneofibular ligament
- invert patient’s ankle and assess for laxity
Excessive eversion and dorsiflexion leads to damage of what structures?
Medial stabilizing ligaments (less common than lateral because of bony articulation b/w medial malleolus + talus)
- strong deltoid ligament
- anterior tibiofibular ligament
- bony martise