Clinical Disorders Of The Foot And Ankle Flashcards
What is an open fracture?
Any fracture that is associated with a break in the skin
Why are open fractures much more dangerous than closed fractures?
Infection risk from commensile bacteria and foreign pathogens
Increased neurovascular injury risk
What is the proper ankle joint (talorcrural joint)?
Articulation between tibia, fibula and talus
What movements can happen across the proper ankle joint?
Plantarflexion
Dorsiflexion
What is the subtalar joint?
Articulation between talus and calcaneus
What movement does the subtalar joint allow?
Inversion
Eversion
What is meant by a fracture?
Discontinuation in the cortex of a bone
What is a syndesmosis?
A fibrous joint by where 2 adjacent bones are joined by a strong membrane or ligaments
What helps ensure the tibia and fibula remain stably attached to each other?
Interosseous membrane
Superior tibiofibular ligaments (Posterior and anterior)
Inferior tibiofibular ligaments (Posterior and anterior)
What are the medial ligaments of the ankle that are important for stability?
Deltoid ligaments:
-Anterior tibiotalar ligament
-Posterior tibiotalar ligament
-Tibionavicular ligament
-Tibiocalcaneal ligament (Big triangle/deltoid)
What are the lateral ligaments of the ankle?
Anterior tibiofibular ligament
Posterior tibiofibular ligament
Calcaneofibular ligament
Anterior talofibular ligament
Posterior talofibular ligament
How many ligaments lead to the talus on the medial side and the lateral side of the ankle?
2 on both sides
Each have an anterior and posterior ligament on both medial and lateral sides
On the medial side of the ankle, where do the ligaments come from?
Tibia (medial malleolus)
On the lateral side of the ankle, where do the ligaments that cross to the tarsal bones all come from?
Fibula (lateral malleolus)
What is a bimalleolar fracture?
When both the medial and lateral malleoli are fractured
What excessive movements usually lead to an ankle fracture?
Inversion injury
Or
Eversion injury
With an open fracture surgery needs to happen immediately, what is a patient at increased risk of?
Osteomyelitis (infection of bone)
What is a Talar shift?
When theres a disruption of any 2 of the syndesmosis, medial or lateral ligaments of the ankle (ankle unstable)
Talus can move either medially or laterally in the ankle joint
How are stable ankle fractures usually treated?
Non-operatively
Aircast boot
Fibreglass cast
How are unstable ankle fractures treated?
Surgical stabilisation
Reduce
Stabilise
Rehabilitate
Patients with what conditions are at high risk in fixing an unstable ankle fracture?
Diabetes
Peripheral vascular diseases
What type of fracture is a 5th metatarsal fracture?
Avulsion fracture
What is an avulsion fracture?
When the bone breaks due to excessive tension through the inserting tendon
What muscles tendon is responsible for causing the tension in an avulsion fracture of the 5th metatarsal?
Fibularis brevis
What needs to happen to the foot for a 5th metatarsal fracture to occur (avulsion fracture)??
Forced inversion while plantarflexed
The significant force from fibrularis brevis pulls of bone where it inserts
Stepping on a curb or climbing steps is typical cause
What is a sprained ankle?
The partial or complete tear of one or more ligaments of the ankle joint
When do ankle sprains usually happen?
Excessive:
External rotation
Inversion
Eversion
Strains ligaments pst yield point
What is the most common mechanisms of injury for an ankle sprain?
Inversion injury of weight bearing plantarflexed foot
What ligaments are going to be damaged in an Eversion injury of the ankle?
Deltoid ligaments
What ligaments are going to be damaged in an inversion injury?
Lateral ligaments