Fractures Flashcards
What is compound fracture?
Skin is broken and broken bone is exposed to air
What is stable fracture?
The bone sections remain aligned after fracture
What is pathological fracture?
Bone breaks due to abnormality in the bone
What terms are used to describe bone fractures?
Transverse
Oblique
Spiral
Segmental
Comminuted
What are the types of wrist fractures?
Colle’s fracture
Smith fracture
Scaphoid fracture
Describe Colle’s fracture.
Transverse fracture of the distal radius
Distal portion displaced posteriorly
Dinner fork deformity
FOOSH
Describe Smith’s fracture.
Reverse Colle’s
Transverse fracture of distal radius but distal portion is displaced anteriorly
Describe a scaphoid fracture.
FOOSH
Tenderness in the anatomical snuffbox
Retrograde blood supply to scaphoid- fracture can cause avascular necrosis and non union
What is a Bennet’s fracture?
Intra articular fracture at base of 1st metacarpal
Axial compression of slightly compressed CMC joint
What are the principles of fracture management?
Immobilise
Pain relief
Clinical assessment
Radiological assessment
Definitive treatment
What is the definitive treatment options for fracture?
Achieve mechanical alignment by:
- Closed reduction via manipulation of the limb
- Open reduction via surgery
Maintain position after reduction:
- Conservative
- Operative
What are the conservative options afte reduction?
Casts
Functional bracing
Traction
What are the surgical options after reduction?
External fixation- pins or wires passed through skin and bone and fixed to an external frame
Internal fixation- intramedullary nailing, screws and plates
What is an open fracture?
Direct communication between external environment and fracture- usually through a break in the skin
What is the Gustillo classification of open fractures?
- Type I: Clean wound less than 1 cm long
- Type II: Wound greater than 1 cm without extensive soft tissue damage
- Type III: Wound with extensive soft tissue damage and often bone exposure
