Fracture management

Question 1

Signs that indicate a fractured bone?

Answer 1

pain, tenderness, swelling, discolouration, loss of function

Question 2

how can you age a fracture?

Answer 2

bruising - initially its dark due to dark deoxygenated blood, then green then yellow as the haemoglobin is broken down

Question 3

what is radioisotope scanning ?

Answer 3

radio opaque fluid injected into eh blood. attaches to phosphate. taken up by bone. more taken up at metabolically active sites. e.g. at site of a fracture

Question 4

how many units of blood can be lost from a pelvic fracture? femoral? tibial?

Answer 4

6 from pelvic - 2-3 from femoral

Question 5

4 ways of holding a fractured bone in correct position?

Answer 5

casting, traction, internal fixation and external fixation

Question 6

when is external fixation used?

Answer 6

when there is gross soft tissue injury

Question 7

3 types of traction?

Answer 7

fixed, balanced, dynamic permits joint motion

Question 8

what stimulates healing in a broken bone?

Answer 8

movement along the axis of the bone (micromovemtn) at right angles to the fracture

Question 9

what is used to treat fracture around a joint?

Answer 9

internal fixation

Question 10

what is used to manage low energy fractures?

Answer 10

plaster cast, internal fixation and traction