Extremity Fracture Flashcards
Content: 3 phases of bone healing (with time frame)
- Inflammatory phase, 1-2 wkls
- Reparative phase, months
- Remodeling phase, mo-yrs
Q: What occurs during the inflammatory phase?
Increased vascularity and formation of fracture hematoma
Q: What is the cellular response during the inflammatory phase? (4)
- Neutrophils 2. Macrophages 3. Phagocytes 4. Osteoclasts
Q: What occurs during the reparative phase?
Cell differentiation - chondroblasts are mineralized by osteoblasts to form a soft callus
Q: What can be seen radiographically during the reparative phase?
Fracture line diminishes
Q: What is the risk during the reparative phase?
Delayed union or non-union
Q: What occurs during the remodeling phase?
Reformation of the medullary canal
Diagram: Fill in the following table
Content: 4 factors of bone healing
- Age
- Location and configuration
- Extent of initial displacement
- Blood supply
Q: Remodeling is _____ ________ in children and _____________ _____________ after early adulthood.
Very, rapid, relatively, constant
Q: What is the femoral shaft healing time for the following ages? Birth, 8 yo, 12 yo, 20 yo
3 wks, 8 wks, 12 wks, 20 wks
Q: Fractures surrounded by __________ heal faster
Muscle
T/F: Cortical bone heals faster than cancellous bone
False, flip it
T/F: Long oblique and spiral fractures heal faster than transverse fractures
True
Q: Non-displaced fractures with ________ periosteal sleave heal _______ as fast as displaced fractures.
Intact, twice
Q: Greater initial displacement = ?
More extensive
Q: Periosteal sleeve disruption = ?
Prolonged healing time
Q: What is the healing prognosis is all fracture fragments have blood supply?
Excellent
Q: If only some fragments have blood supply, what is the course of action?
Rigid immoblization to allow for vascularized fragments to serve as “hosts” to unvascularized fragments
Content: Initial complications due to local injuries to… (5)
- Skin
- Vascular
- Neurologic
- Muscular
- Visceral
Content: Early complications - local (3)
- Infection, gangrene, septic arthritis
- Compartment syndrome
- Osteomyelitis, avascular necrosis
Content: Early complications - remote (3)
- Thrombus/embolus formation
- Pneumonia
- Tetanus
Content: Late complications - joint (2)
- Persistent pain or stiffness
- Post-traumatic DJD