Fracture and Fracture Repair Flashcards
What is the most common lesion in bone?
Fracture
What is a pathological fracture?
Fracture through diseased bone
Are all fractures pathologies?
Yes
Are all fractures pathologic fractures?
No
What are the three phases of fracture repair?
- Inflammation phase
- Repair phase
- Remodeling phase
When does the inflammatory phase occur?
Onset to approximately 10 days
When does the reparative phase occur?
Approximately one week to a few months
When does the remodeling phase occur?
Several weeks on
inflammatory phase
What events occur between onset and two days post fracture?
- Rupture of blood vessels (in both soft tissue and bone)
- Hematoma
- Tearing of periosteum
- Necrosis of bone and soft tissue
What is the function of hematoma during the inflammatory phase?
Fills gaps, surrounds injury, seals off fracture
inflammatory phase
What events occur 2-5 days post fracture?
- Fibrin mesh develops
- Fibroblasts migrate into area
- Begins to form and lay down cartilage between bone ends
- Necrosis and macrophage activity continues
inflammatory phase
Which cells are involved in necrosis post fracture?
Macrophages and PMNs (neutrophils)
inflammatory phase
What events occur 5-10 days post fracture?
- Soft tissue callus (procallus) begins to form
- Macrophage activity is ongoing
The early part of the reparative phase occurs simultaneously with the….
later part of the inflammatory phase
What events occur during the reparative phase?
- Osteoclasts and mononuclear cells clean up debris
- Extensive neovascularization/angiogenesis
- Callus formation begins
- Significant osteoblastic activity occurs
reparative phase
How might a fracture appear on X ray ten days to two weeks post fracture?
Fracture appears wider
reparative phase
How might a fracture appear on X ray four weeks post fracture?
A hazy cloud is seen as callus formation begins
What events occur during the remodeling phase?
- Occurs as callus seals the bone
- Bone adjusts its strength and shape (Wolff’s Law)
remodeling phase
What is the state of the fracture as the callus seals the bone?
Fracture is stable depending on age, general health, and fracture location
What cells are involved in the inflammation phase?
- PMNs
- Macrophages
- Osteoclasts (may be present)
What cells are involved in the reparative phase?
- Chondrocytes
- Osteoblasts
- PMNs
- Macrophages
What cells are involved in the remodeling phase?
- Osteoblasts
- Osteoclasts
- Osteocytes
What is clinical union?
Point when cast is removed; implies fracture is stable
What is malunion?
Healing with residual deformity