Clinical skills - Fractures and Dislocations Flashcards
Fracture management
Reduce
Retain
Rehab
Fracture management - reduce
Closed reduction by applying a splint
Closed reduction by traction
Closed reduction by manipulation
Open reduction if closed reduction fails but not in all
Fracture management - retain
Maintain reduction until fracture heals Traction Plaster Splints Gravity in huumeral fractures Internal fixation - screws, plates, tension bands, intramedulllary devices
Fracture management - rehab
Restore to orig. status before the injury
Principles of DCO
Control of bleeding
Arterial repair, decompressing tension, pneumothorax and fasciotomy for compartment syndrome
Provisional fracture stability w/ external fixation
When is decompression fasciotomy considered
Taken more than 6 hrs to restore arterial supply to the limb
Extensive distal injury including burns
Significant venous damage
Pelvic binder
Emergency management
Pelvic binder over greater trochanters
Binding both legs together
Flexing hips by inserting a pillow under the knees
Pelvis packing
Double pelvic external fixators applied first to stabilise pelvis then a laparotomy is performed, and the pelvis is packed. External fixator may be left in situ for 3 months
Acute compartment syndrome
Rise in pressure within a closed space resulting in ischaemia of the components
Most common in lower limb, forearm, thigh
Ischaemia
Inadeqaute blood supply
Fasciotomy
Long cannula inserted into anterior compartment, under anaesthesia and once a certain pressure is made along w/ other clinical signs, patient is taken to operate - all compartments released
Early long bone stabilisation leads to reduced:
ARDS Pneumonia Ventilator days ITU days Hosp days Systemic infection
Treatment of open fractures
Photography
Cover w/ antiseptic dressing
Abx and splint the limbs - antitetanic when indicated
Theatre within 6 hrs for definitive survey
Debridement
Wound is vigorously irrigated w/ warm isotonic saline where appropriate
Stabilisation w/ external fixator
Debridement
Dead and damaged tissue excised
Signs of dead tissue
Doesn’t contract when pinched w/ forceps
Isn’t red and shiny
What happens few days after an open fracture is treated
Wound reinspected and covered w/ muscle and skin graft
Occasionally external factor is replaced w/ intrameduallary nail
Fracture definition
A soft tissue envelope in which there happens to be a break in cortex which exists from the opposite cortex
What kind of fracture does a twisting force produce
Spiral fracture w/ a long fracture line OR
Oblique fracture w/ short fracture line
What kind of fracture does a bending force produce
Transverse fracture w/ a third small fragment - bending wedge
What kind of fracture does a high energy force produce
Comminuted fracture w/ lots of fragments
Personality of fractures
Good
Bad
Ugly
Good fractures
Heal well
Bad fractures
Difficult to heal and have little chance of OA
Ugly fractures
Difficult to manage w/ a high chance of developing OA
All pelvic fractures are bad or ugly
Soft tissue
Skin Muscles Blood vessels Nerves Tendons and ligaments Fascia
Reading an x-ray
Read name of patient Confirm dob on patients wrist band Read hosp no. Find out date of X-ray Note part of region, right or left Look for whether standing or weight bearing X-rays
Angulation
Valgus
Parallel
Varus
Valgus angualtion
Apex medial
Distal limb away from midline
Parallel angulation
No angulation
Varus angulation
Apex lateral
Distal limb towards midline
Types of femoral neck or hip fractures
Sub trochanteric - reduce and fix w/ dynamic hip screw
Trochanteric - IM nail
Sub-capital/ intracapsular - requires replacement
Management depends on blood supply
Salter Harris
Classification of fractures in regards to epiphysis
Straight Above beLow Through - metaphysis and epiphysis cRushed
Dislocation
No articulation between joints when there is usually one
Neurovascular status is esp important
AMPLE history
A - allergies M - medications P - past medical history L - last meal E - event
Bone healing
Fracture
Haemotoma
Cartilage
Replaced by lamellar woven immature bone
Remodelling bone - NSAIDs switch off infl process, so may delay bone healing
Growth and differentiation factors
Transforming Growth Factor (TGF-b) Bone Morphogenetic Proteins (BMPs) Fibroblast Growth Proteins (FGF-1,2) Insulin-Like Growth Factor (IGF-1) Platelet - Derived Growth Factor (PDGF)
Growth and differentiation factors process
Stem –> Proliferation, Migration –> Differentiation –> Matrix production, Vascularisation
Growth and differentiation factors in proliferation and migration
TGF - b
FGF
IGF
PDGF
Growth and differentiation factors in differentiation
BMP
Growth and differentiation factors in matrix production and vascularisation
TGF-b
BMP
FGF
Valid consent
Voluntary
Informed
Capacity
Valid consent - voluntary
Patient must be free to agree to refuse treatment
Consent should be obtained without coercion or duress
Valid consent - informed
The procedure must be explained in simple language
Complications and ‘material risks’ should be discussed - consequences
Valid consent - capacity
Must understand the relevant info provided
Be able to retain the info
Be able to weigh up the pros of cons of the treatment proposed
Be able to communicate
Types of consent
Implied
Oral
Written
Implied consent
The patient presenting to clinic to be examined
The arm offered for venepuncture
Oral consent
Verbal conversation gaining permission
Often formalised after the encounter w/ documentation in the notes
Written point
Pre-emptive
Involved
Best supported in law
Treatment without consent
Emergency situation to save life
Waiting for another professional would be detrimental to patient
Risk to public health
Severely ill and living in unhygienic conditions
FBC
Full blood count
Establishes total no. of RBC/s, WBC’s & platelets. These cells develop in active bone marrow - ends of long bones e.g. humerus
Characteristics of erythrocytes
Normocytic Macrocytic Microcytic Normochromic Hyperchromic Hypochromic
Normocytic
Normal cell size
Macrocytic
Larger than normal cell size
Microcytic
Smaller than normal cell size
Normochromic
Normal Hb content
Hyperchromic
Red cell saturated w/ Hb