Fractures

Question 1

What nerve and artery is most at risk during a surgical neck (humerus) fracture?

Answer 1

Axillary nerve

Circumflex humeral artery

Question 2

What nerve and artery is most at risk during a humeral mid-shaft fracture?

Answer 2

Radial nerve

Brachial artery

Question 3

What nerve is most at risk during a supraepidcondylar fracture?

Answer 3

Median nerve damage

Question 4

What nerve is most at risk if there is an avulsion fracture of the medial epicondyle?

Answer 4

Ulnar nerve

*avulsion- The action of pulling or tearing away

Question 5

What is a Colles Fracture? How might it occur?

Answer 5

Transverse fracture of distal radius

Falling on outstretched hand

Question 6

How do you end up with a dinner fork deformity, what fracture has occurred?

Answer 6

Cole’s fracture (distal end of radius)

Things distal to break are displaced distally

Question 7

What is a Smith’s fracture? How does it occur?

Answer 7

Transverse fracture of the distal radius

Occurs when falling onto a flexed wrist
*get anterior displacement of distal fragment

Question 8

How would you fracture the scaphoid? Where would tenderness be felt with this?

Answer 8

Falling onto palm of an abducted hand

Over anatomical snuff box

Question 9

What is special about the scaphoid and what impact does this have?

Answer 9

Blood supply is distal to proximal, if this blood supply is damages you can get avascular necrosis

Question 10

When would a scaphoid fracture become visible?

Answer 10

After a few weeks, as it cant be seen immediately

However if you suspect it, treat the person for a scaphoid fracture to avoid avascular necrosis happening

Question 11

What is a Boxer’s fracture? How does it occur? Where would tenderness be felt?

Answer 11

Fracture to neck of 4th or 5th metacarpals
Caused by punching an object
Tenderness over fracture site