Chapter 32: Orthopeadic Emergencies Flashcards
What are considered minor musculoskeletal injuries?
Minor sprains and fractures or dislocations of digits
What are considered moderate musculoskeletal injuries?
Open fractures of digits, nondisplaced long bone fractures, nondisplaced pelvic fractures, major sprains of a major joint
What are considered serious musculoskeletal injuries?
displaced long bone fractures, multiple hand and foot fractures, open long bone fractures, displaced pelvic fractures, dislocations of major joints, multiple digit amputations, laceration of major nerved or blood vessels
What are considered severe, life-threatening injuries musculoskeletal injuries?
(survival is probable)
Multiple closed fractures, limb amputations, fractures of both long bones of the legs (bilateral femur fractures)
What are considered critical musculoskeletal injuries?
(Survival is uncertain)
Multiple open fractures of the limbs, suspected pelvic fractures with hemodynamic instability
What composes the pectoral girdle?
clavicle, scapula, and AC (acromioclavicular) joint
What are the bones of the pelvic girdle? And what is the “hip”?
Ischium, ilium, and pubis
-hip: greater trochanter
What are the MOI to make you suspect orthopedic injury?
Direct blows, indirect forces, twisting forces, and high-energy forces
What are the four criteria of fractures?
Open, closed, displaced (causing distortions, limb shortening, rotation, and angulation), non displaced
What are the eight types of fractures?
Comminuted: broken in more than two fragments
Epiphyseal: fracture of growth plate (children)
Greenstick: incomplete fracture, one side broken other bent
Incomplete: Doesn’t run through bone
Oblique: Broken at an angle
Pathologic: Diseased bone
Spiral: Oblique fracture around and through bone caused by twisting (child abuse)
Transverse: straight across the bone
What are the signs and symptoms of fractures?
Tenderness, guarding, swelling, bruising, crepitus, false motion, exposed fragments, pain, locked joint,
What is a dislocation? What should you be wary of, when are they a serious medical emergency, and what should you make sure to do?
Interruption of a joint where bone ends are no longer in contact (sometimes dislocations spontaneously reduce)
Wary: Spinal injuries
Serious med emergency when they don’t reduce
CHECK PMS
Signs and symptoms of dislocation?
Deformity, swelling, pain aggravated by movement, tenderness on palpation, loss of normal joint movement, numbness or impaired circulation
What is the difference between a strain and a sprain?
Strain: stretching/tearing of muscle
Sprain: Joint twisted/stretched beyond normal range leads to injury to ligaments, tendons, or synovial membrane,
-found in: ankles, knees, and shoulders
What is the issue with sprains, strains, and breaks?
They cannot be determined without x-rays
