Fractures Flashcards
Definition of an open fracture
A fracture in which there is a direct communication between the external environment and the fracture
Importance of open fractures
higher energy injury
increased infection rate
soft tissue complications
long term morbidity
Gustilo classification of open fractures
type 1 - wound < 1cm - clean - simple fracture pattern type 2 - wound > 1cm - moderate soft tissue damage - adequate skin coverage - simple fracture pattern type 3 - extensive soft tissue damage - complex fracture pattern - 3A = adequate peritoneal coverage - 3B = tissue loss requiring soft tissue covering procedure (such as flap or graft) - 3C = vascular injury requiring repair
Management of open fractures
Full ATLS assessment and treatment
tetanus and antibiotic prophylaxis
repeated exam n/v status
wounds only handled to remove gross contamination
photograph/cover (saline swab) and stabilise limb
no provisional irrigation/exposure
radiographs
Indications for emergency urgent surgery in open fractures
polytraumatised patient marine or farmyard environment Gross contamination Neurovascular compromise compartment syndrome
What is a polytraumatised patient?
Multiple fractures that start the affect the physiology of the patient
What is compartment syndrome?
increasing pressure within a compartment -> causes swelling until it cannot swell anymore -> this increases the pressure and then the blood supply is cut off
4Cs of surgical debridement and fixation
colour
contraction
consistency
capacity to bleed
What are multiple debridements associated with?
poorer outcomes
scoring system to identify chance of amputation looks at…..
limb ischaemia
age range of patient (older = less likely to recover)
shock
injury mechanism
What counts as a low energy injury?
stab
gunshot
simple fracture
What counts as a medium energy injury?
Dislocation
open/multiple fractures
What counts as a high energy injury?
High speed MVA
rifle shot
What consists of a very high energy injury?
high speed trauma with gross contamination
Types of fracture patterns
transverse/short oblique
communication/butterfly fragments
segmental
with bone loss
types of soft tissue injury patterns
skin loss such that direct tension free closure is not possible
Degloving
injury to the muscles
injury to 1 or more major arteries
Definition of dislocation
complete joint disruption
Definition of subluxation
partial dislocation - not fully out of the joint
Investigations of dislocation
clinical
radiological
What ways does the shoulder dislocate?
Anterior
Posterior
Deformity of a dislocated shoulder
squared off
locked in internal rotation
deformity of a dislocated elbow
olecranon prominent posterior
which ways does the elbow dislocate?
posterior
which ways does the hip dislocate?
posterior
Deformity of a dislocated hip
Leg short, flexed
internal rotation
adduction
what way does the knee dislocate?
anteroposterior