Clinical applications Flashcards
What is a first degree burn?
Epidermis damaged but still intact
What is a second degree burn?
Damage to dermis and epidermis
What are the signs of a second degree burn?
Blisterring
Loss of heat and fluid
Inability to combat infection
What is a third degree burn?
Destruction of both dermis and epidermis
How is a blister formed?
Separation of dermis and epidermis due to prolonged friction causing fluid to move between layers
What are langer’s lines and why are they useful to surgeons?
Tension/cleavage lines that follow the orientation of collagen fibres.
Incisions made parallel to these lines heal more rapidly and produce neater scars
What happens to the skin to result in the visible signs of aging?
Flattening of dermoepidermal junction
Loss of elastin causing skin to become loose and lined
Which vein is used for venepuncture to take blood?
Median cubital vein
Which vein is used for cannulation and why?
Cephalic vein
Fairly large vein with a constant position
Where is the most common region for biceps tendon rupture?
Proximal part of long head of biceps
What happen when the biceps tendon is ruptured at the proximal region
What is observed?
Retracted muscle bunches up in the arm leading to a bulge (popeye muscle)
What degree of functional loss is there in a ruptured biceps tendon?
Minimal
short head still intact
What type of patients usually present with a ruptured biceps tendon?
Aged 40-60 with a history of shoulder problems, secondary to chronic wear an tear of tendon
Younger individuals may rupture tendon during a fall or when lifting weights
Where does a distal biceps tendon rupture usually occur?
What are the affects of this?
Insertion on radial tuberosity
Reduced strength in forearm supination and elbow flexion (requires surgery)
Which nerve can be damaged in a humeral shaft fracture?
What could this lead to?
Radial
Wrist drop
What is a supracondylar fracture and how is it caused?
Fracture of distal humerus proximal to epicondyles
Fall on outstretched hand
What are the complications associated with a supracondylar fracture?
Rupture or compression of brachial artery
Injury to median nerve
What is the most common form of elbow dislocation?
Posterior
What are the complications associated with posterior elbow dislocation?
Entrapment of ulnar nerve
(runs posterior to medial epicondyle)
Brachial artery and median nerve injured less frequently
What region is damaged in erb’s palsy?
C5 and C6 of the brachial plexus
What causes Erb’s palsy?
excessive downward traction on upper limb during a difficult delivery
What are the signs of erb’s palsy?
Loss of shoulder abduction and elbow flexion and supination
leading to waiter’s tip sign
what region is damaged in Klumpke’s palsy?
T1 of brachial plexus
What causes klumpke’s palsy?
Hyperabduction of shoulder in breech delivery
What are the signs of Klumpke’s palsy?
Wasting of intrinsic muscles of the hand
What is the result of a distal lesion of the median nerve?
Carpal tunnel syndrome
What is the result of a proximal lesion of the median nerve?
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Inability to flex index and middle fingers and distal phalanx of the thumb
Weakness/wasting of muscles in the thenar eminence
Inability to oppose and adduct the thumb
Impairment of precision grip
Ulnar deviation