Fracture management Flashcards
ATLS
Advanced training life support
ABCDE
Airway Breathing Circulation Disability Exposure
Airway management
Ensuring it is patent
- Cervical spine control
Give oxygen
Immediately life threatening airway and breathing problems: ATOM FC
Airway obstruction
Tension pneumothorax
Open pneumothorax
Massive haemothorax
Flial chest
Cardiac tamponade
Physiology of shock
Tachycardiac
Low BP (later stage)
Altered consciousness
Decreased urine output
- Very specific
Decreased pulse pressure
Major areas we bleed from quickly
Pelvic
Abdomen
Chest/ Thorax
Neck
Compartment syndrome
Increased pressure in compartment of the body.
- Causes compression of affected structures i.e nerves, vessels
Arterial compression= ischaemia
Venous compression= oedema
Treated with fasciotomy
Description of fracture
- Bone affected
- Location of the bone:
- Intra-articular
- Epiphysis
- Physis
- Metaphysis
- Diaphysis - Type of bone
- If the bone has moved
- How many parts in fracture
Fracture pattern description
Simple (into 2 parts)
- Transverse
- Oblique
- Spiral
Comminuted= more than 2 parts
Displacement
Basis of fracture correction
- Factors corrected
- Stabilisers
Factors corrected:
Length
Alignment
Rotation
Stabilisers:
- Sling
- POP (plaster)
- Wires
- Nails (intramedullary) or plates (extramedullary)
Skin graft
Transplantation of skin that does not have its own blood supply.
- Contains the epidermis and part of the dermis
Indications:
- Extensive wounding or trauma
- Burns
- Areas of extensive skin loss due to infection such as necrotizing fasciitis
- Removal of skin cancers
Free flap
Transplantation of tissue from one site to another.
- Contains its own blood supply that is re-established through anastomosis