Fractures Flashcards
What constitutes a closed (simple) fracture?
Fracture doesn’t pierce the skin
What is an open, compound fracture?
Bone is exposed to the environment or fracture hematoma is exposed, either way you need procedural washout and antibiotics to treat these fractures
What fracture type is shown here?
• common cause?
Shown here is a compression fracture in the vertebrae. This is often a complication of osteoporosis.
What fracture type is this?
• Common cause?
Comminuted fracture often caused by a gunshot wound.
What fracture type is this?
• cause?
Impacted fractures are causes by two bones being driven into eachother
Why is a spiral fracture in a child significant?
These fractures are significant in children because they indicate child abuse UNLESS it’s a toddler’s fracture (fracture of the distal tibia)
What causes hairline (stress) fractures?
Often caused by repeated stress often seen in weight bearing bones. This small fracture may not be visible on Xray, often its treated on the basis of clinical suspicion.
What causes a scaphiod fracture?
• How does it often present?
Often this is secondary to a fall on an outstretched hand. Patients often present with pain in the anatomic snuffbox. XRAY is usually unremarkable for the FIRST WEEK. Patients must be splinted so that scaphoid doesn’t undergo avascular necrosis.
What typically causes a basilar skull fracture?
• how might it present?
Typically its secondary to trauma
Common features ar raccoon eyes (periorbital ecchymoses), mastoid ecchymoses (batte sign), or CSF leakage through the ears or nose (has a salty metallic taste)
What are some fractures that are highly suggestive of nonaccidental trauma in a child?
- Rib Fractures
- Spiral Fractures (excluding toddler’s fracture)
- Multiple fractures at different ages
- Shaken baby syndrome with subdural hematomas and retinal hemorrhages
When does fracture of the femoral head happen typically?
• what is the difference in an intracapsular break and an extracapsular break?
These typically occur as a result of a fall and are associated with high morbidity and mortality in the elderly. You typically want an extracapsular fracture to occur because intracapsular fractures by disrupt blood supply to the femur and lead to avascular necrosis of the femoral head.
How does healing of a bone work? (4 steps)
What are 3 common complications of fractures?
- DVT/PE
- Fat Emboli (in long bone fractures)
- Compartment syndrome
What causes compartment syndrome?
• what breaks is this most commonly seen in?
Caused by increased pressure (because fascia is holding in inflammation) leading to compression of the vascular supply to the extremity.
Compartment syndrome is seen most often in breaks of the forearm and leg
Compartment syndrome:
• Treatment
• what to look for on H and P.
