Fractures Flashcards
What is an oblique fracture?
One which occurs diagonally across the bone - in one plane
What is a spiral fracture?
Similar to oblique but occurs in more than one plane- not as simple as cutting a stick down the middle
What is angulation displacement fracture?
One in which the two parts of the bones point at different angles
What is a translation displacement fracture?
Bone parts are pointing in the same direction (same angulation) but one is moved off the exact line of the other - displaced to the side
What is rotation displacement fracture?
One bone segment is rotated away from the other one - same angle and line but two parts don’t line up
What is impaction fracture?
Shortening of the bone without loss of alignment
What is foreshortening fracture?
Shortening of the bone with loss of alignment
When giving a displacement description - which part of the bone is it referring to?
Is it referring to the distal fragment
What is the ‘rule-of-3’s’ for fracture healing?
Closed, paediatric, metaphyseal, upper limb fracture is simplest and will heal in 3 weeks
Any complicating factor doubles the healing time. Aka an adult femur diaphyseal fracture will take 24weeks. Adult (6weeks), diaphyseal (12weeks), lower limb(24 weeks).
What is difference between metaphyseal and diaphyseal?
Shaft of the long bone is the diaphysis
Ossified portion of bone in transitional zone between epiphysis (end of bone beyond the growth plate - physis) and diaphysis is the metaphysis
What is fracture disease?
Muscle atrophy, stiff joints and osteoporosis that follows immobilisation for treatment of a fracture
What is open reduction internal fixation?
Open surgery to realign the bone and then fix with screws etc on the inside and reconstruct joint surfaces - allows joint mobility
When is open reduction internal fixation indicated? x5
Intra-articular #s Failed conservative treatment 2 #'s in 1 limb Bilateral identical #s Open #s
What is external fixation and when is it useful?
Using wires into the bone, a bar and clamps to attach it all. Intervention is away from field of injury therefore good if burns, loss of skin or open fracture
How does lag screw fixation work and when is it useful?
Proximal hole is bigger than distal hole in bones and therefore when screw is tightened it pulls the distal segment into the proximal one - good for oblique fractures
What is the Gustilo classification of open fractures?
Type 1: low-energy, wounds 1cm causing moderate soft tissue damage
Type 2: greater than 1cm
Type 3: all high-energy fractures irrespective of wound size
Different subtypes of Type 3 Gustilo classification
IIIa - adequate local soft tissue coverage
IIIb - inadequate local soft tissue coverage
And periosteal stripping
IIIc - arterial injury needing repair
7a’s of emergency management of open fractures
ATLS (ABCDE)
Assessment - NV status, soft tissue injury and photographs of wound
Antisepsis - Take a swab from wound, copious irrigation - cover with large antiseptic dressing
Alignment: align and splint
Anti-tetanus
Antibiotics: 3rd gen cephalosporin eg. ceftrixone + metronidazole
Analgesia
Why is fracture reduction needed?
Return of function
Aids revascularisation
Frees any structures trapped between bone ends
Prevents later degeneration if joints involved
When is traction still used to fix fractures?
In children
In adults it has largely been replaced by fixation (internal and external)
What is traction?
Use of pulleys, weights and and ropes to apply force to a bone to aid mending in the early stages
What is skin traction?
Adhesive strapping to attach load to the limb - weight at end of bed
What is fixed traction?
Eg. using a Thomas splint
Does not require gravity, force is in the splint
What is skeletal traction?
Pin through bone allows bigger forces to be applied