Fractures + Joint Disorders Flashcards
Common site of stress fractures
Tibia
Fibula
Navicular
Femoral Neck
Pars Interarticularis
Talus
Sesamoids
Metatarsals (2nd/3rd)
Medial Malleolus
Ix for stress fractures
CT
MRI
Bone scan
FU XR 3 mo
RF for stress fractures
Female
Repetitive Activities (sports, running, walking, marching, gymnastics)
Obesity
Osteoporosis
Post-Menopausal
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Corticosteroids Use
Poor Footwear
Previous Inactivity
Previous Stress Fracture
Management of elderly w/ acute mobility change
investigate with bone scans + CT before excluding fracture
What are fragility fractures?
Fracture that is sustained from a fall from standing height
How to describe a fracture
Closed v open
Location
Orientation
Ways of describing location of fracture
Epiphyseal: end of bone
Metaphyseal: flared portion of bone at end of shaft
Diaphyseal: shaft of long bone
Physis: growth plate
Ways of describing orientation of fracture
Transverse
Oblique (angular)
Spiral (complex, multiplanar, rotation force)
Comminuted (more than 2 fracture fragments)
Intraarticular
Green-stick (incomplete fracture of one cortex)
Early complications of fractures
Compartment syndrome
Neurological/ vascular injury
Infection
Fracture blister
Late complications of fractures
Mal/ non-union
Avascular necrosis
Osteomyelitis
Heterotrophic ossification
Arthritis
Which fractures may not show up on XR and should be treated anyway?
Scaphoid
Elbow
Growth plate
Stress
When do you use a forearm volar slab splint
soft tissue injury of hand/ wrist, carpal bone fracture (excluding scaphoid), childhood buckle fracture distal radius)
How to apply a forearm volar slab splint
Landmark: distal palmar crease + proximal third of forearm
Stockinette should go 10cm beyond landmarks
Make splint with 10 layers of plaster between landmarks
What is a Toddler’s fracture - mechanism, age, presentation, XR + management
Spiral tibial fracture
Mechanism: twisting injury while tripping
Age: 9mo-3y/o
Presentation: limping, inability to wt bear, tenderness at site
XR: repeat in 2 wks as hard to see fracture line, 2 view antero-posterior and lateral and consider internal oblique
Management: immobilisation with short leg back slab - not cast. Remove in 4 wks
When are C spine rules applicable
stable pt, GCS 15, injury <48hrs ago, >16y/o, no vertebral dz, no penetrating injury, not pregnant
C spine rules
Any high risk factors:
-Age >65
-Dangerous mechanism
- Paraesthesia in extremity
If YES to any = XR
Any helpful factors?
Ambulatory at any time
In a sitting position in ED
Delayed onset of pain
No midline C spine tenderness
Simple rear end collision
If any of these factors present, can assess neck movement.
If none of these factors present, need XR.
Assessing neck: can they actively rotate neck left and right by 45? No = XR
Yes = cleared
Ottawa knee rules
Age > 55
Isolated patellar tenderness
Tenderness head of fibula
Inability to flex 90
Inability to wt bear immediately AND in ED
Classification, ix and management of clavicle fractures
Allman classification
Ix: anteroposterior + serendipity views
Management: sling for 2-6w, may need surgery for displaced fracture
Mechanism of shoulder dislocation (ant + post)
Anterior = abduction, extension, external rotation
Posterior = posterior directed force, electric shock or sz injury
shoulder dislocation - physical findings, ix and management
Physical: palpable humeral head in axilla, dimple inferior to acromion laterally, assess for axillary nerve injury
Ix: anteroposterior, scapular Y, axillary XR
Management: XR before and after reduction, sling 1w, PT after 2w
Features on hx of scaphoid fracture + sx
FOOSH w/ wrist dorsiflexion + radially deviated, swollen, swelling + pain in anatomical snuffbox. Pain w/ axial pressure on 1st metacarpal bone
Sx of late presentation of scaphoid fracture
painful wrist extension, loss of grip
XR - what to order + management of scaphoid fracture
XR: anteroposterior, lateral, oblique views)
Management: immobilize wrist in spica short arm cast and re-image
If high clinical suspicion but not confirmed on XR, splint w/ spica cast and repeat XR in 10-14d or bone scan 1-2d after injury
Causes of volar plate injury + place of maximal tenderness. What should you also test when examining?
Hyperextension of finger joint, usually PIP
maximum tenderness volar aspect of joint. Test collateral ligaments