Common fractures of upper and lower limb Flashcards
Transverse fracture
Straight across bone
Oblique fracture
Oblique line across bone
Spiral fracture
Looks like corkscrew
Comminuted fracture
More than 2 parts to fracture
Incomplete fracture
Whole complex isn’t broken
Bowing fracture
Long bone is bent
Buckle fracture
Fracture is of concave surface
Greenstick fracture
Fracture on convex side, doesn’t go completely through bone
Salter-Harris fracture
Fracture involving growth plate
Diaphysis
Shaft of bone
Metaphysis
Widening portion adjacent to growth plate
Epiphysis
End of bone adjacent to joint
Type I Salter-Harris fracture
Through growth plate
Type II Salter-harris fracture
Through growth plate and metaphysis
Type III Salter-Harris fracture
Through growth plate and epiphysis
Type IV Salter-Harris fracture
Through all 3 elements
Type V Salter-Harris fracture
Crush injury of growth plate
What does SALTER stand for?
Straight across (type I) Above (type II) Lower (type III) Through Everything (type IV) cRush (type V)
What is a displaced fracture?
Bones move apart, no longer touch
Treatment for clavicle fracture
Analgesia and collar-and-cuff, occasionally surgery
Risk factor for clavicle fracture
Osteoporosis, common young adults and older women
Complication of clavicle fracture
Brachial plexus injury (pneumothorax)
Causes of scapula fracture
FOOSH
Direct trauma to shoulder
Another name for humeral head fracture
Hill-Sachs
What is a humeral head fracture?
Posterolateral humeral head deprrssion
Which nerve is commonly affected by humeral head fracture?
Axillary
Sensory area of axillary nerve
Soldier’s patch
Motor area of axillary nerve
Deltoid
How does humeral head dislocation commonly occur?
Trauma and impact injuries
Which type of humeral head dislocation is most common?
Anterior dislocation
Which nerve is damaged with humeral shaft fracture?
Radial
Common causes of humeral shaft fracture
Direct blow to upper arm or indirect trauma caused by falling/twisting action
Common cause of epicondyle fracture
FOOSH
Which nerve is commonly damaged with olecranon fracture?
Ulnar
Common causes of olecranon fracture
Direct blow
FOOSH with flexed elbow
Type I supracondylar fracture
Non displaced
Type II supracondylar fracture
Angulated with intact posterior cortex
Type III supracondylar fracture
Completely displaced
Type IV supracondylar fracture
Complete periosteal disruption
Galeazzi fracture-dislocation
Fracture of distal radius with dislocation of distal radio-ulnar joint, ulnar is otherwise intact
Monteggia fracture-dislocation
Fracture of ulnar shaft with concomitant dislocation of radial head
How can you see joint effusion on x-ray?
Posterior fat pad visible where it normally isn’t
Common joint effusion in children
Supracondylar
Common joint effusion in adults
Radial head
What is joint effusion?
Collection of fluid
What is Colles fracture?
Extra-articular fractures of distal radius
Occur due to FOOSH
Fracture of distal radial metaphysical region with dorsal angulation and impaction
What is Smith fracture?
Opposite Colles - palmar
What is a Boxer’s fracture?
Minimally convoluted
Transverse fracture of 5th metacarpal neck
What is Gamekeeper’s thumb?
Avulsion/rupture of UCL of first metacarpophalangeal joint
What is Mallet finger?
Triangular avulsion fragment at extensor aspect of distal phalanx DIP joint
What commonly causes scaphoid fracture?
FOOSH
Symptoms of scaphoid fracture
Pain in anatomical snuffbox
Side effects of scaphoid fracture
AVN
What is a pelvic fracture?
Ring breaks in two places, commonly includes pubic symphysis and sacroiliac joints
Dangers of pelvic fracture
Significant blood loss is common
Risk factors for neck of femur fracture
Age, RTA, osteoporosis
Signs of neck of femur fracture
Leg shortened and externally rotated
Causes of femoral shaft fracture
High speed RTA or pathological causes
Complications of femoral shaft fracture
Blood loss (profound blood vessels) Fat embolism
Signs of femoral shaft fracture
Often displaced and shortened due to psoas flexing, glut med abducting proximal fragment and adductors pulling distal fragment
Signs of fibular neck fracture
Foot drop - damage to common peroneal nerve
What are the three types of Danis-Weber classification?
A,B and C
What does the Danis-Weber classification categorise?
Ankle fractures
What is a type A Danis-Weber fracture?
- Below ankle joint
- Tibiofibular syndesmosis intact
- Deltoid ligament intact
- Medial malleolus often fracturd
- Usually stable
What is a type B Danis-Weber fracture?
- Level with ankle joint
- Syndesmosis intact/partially torn
- No widening of distal tibiofibular articulation
- Medial malleolus may be fractured
- Deltoid ligament may be torn
- Variable stability
What is a type C Danis-Weber fracture?
- Above ankle joint
- Syndesmosis disrupted
- Widening of distal tibiofibular articulation
- Medial malleolus fracture
- Deltoid ligament injury
- Unstable - requires ORIF (open reduction internal fixation)