Fractures, Open Fractures, Dislocations and Principles of Management Flashcards
How many people die in RTAs every year?
1.2 million
What is the 7th biggest killer in the world?
Trama
What percentage of orthopaedic workload in the UK is accounted for by traumatic injuries?
Over 40%
What are the selected serious complications of fracture?
Fat embolism
Compartment syndrome
Complex regional pain syndrome type 1
What is a fracture?
A fracture is any break in the structural continuity of the bone, may be a crack, break, split, crumpling or buckle
Why do bones fail (fracture)?
High energy transfer in normal bones
Repetitive stress in normal bones
Low energy transfer in abnormal bones e.g. osteoporosis, osteomalacia, metastatic tumour
What does Wolff’s Law state?
Form follows function - i.e. bone is laid down where it is needed and removed where it is not needed
What should you include in the description of a fracture?
Mechanism and energy of injury Skin and soft tissues Site Shape Comminution Deformity Associated injuries
What is an open fracture?
A fracture in which there is direct communication between fracture and external environment
How do open fractures differ from closed fractures?
Higher risk of infection
Higher energy injury - with associated consequences for soft tissue and bone healing
Communication with the external environment is usually through what?
A break in the skin
What are the determinants of fracture classification?
Mechanism and velocity
Degree of soft tissue damage
Fracture configuration
Degree of contamination
According to the Gustilo grading, what are the features of fracture type I?
Low energy
Wound < 1cm
Clean
Often bone piercing skin from inside
According to the Gustilo grading, what are the features of fracture type II?
Moderate soft tissue damage
Wound < 10cm
No soft tissue flap or avulsion
According to the Gustilo grading, what are the features of fracture type III?
High energy Extensive soft tissue damage Severe fracture Wound > 10cm Any gunshot, farm accident, segmental fracture, bone loss, severe crush injury
According to the Gustilo grading, what are the features of fracture type IIIA?
Soft tissue damage but not grossly contaminated
According to the Gustilo grading, what are the features of fracture type IIIB?
Periosteal stripping, extensive muscle damage and heavy contamination
According to the Gustilo grading, what are the features of fracture type IIIC?
Associated neuromuscular complications
What is the epidemiology of open fractures?
23 per 100,000 population per year
Fingers and tibial shaft account for > 50%
Plastic and orthopaedic combined management
About 3,500 open tibial shaft fractures in UK per year
What percentage of type IIIB tibial shaft fractures require flap cover?
70%
What is the management of open fractures?
Tetanus and antibiotic prophylaxis
Photograph, cover and stabilise limb
Surgical emergency - operation within 6 hours
Early and thorough wound excision and toilet
Do no close wound - leave skin open
Repeat wound review and toilet every 24-48 hours
Early definitive skin cover 5-7 days
Stabilise fracture
Possible bone grafting
Fasciotomies
What is the management for Gustilo grades I-IIIA?
Same as closed fracture
Internal fixation, IM nail etc.
What is the management for Gustilo grades IIIB?
Problem fracture
Open external fixation to allow plastic surgery
What is the management for Gustilo grades IIIC?
External fixation or primary amputation
What do you need to remember in open fracture management?
Multiple Injuries
Stabilisation of the fracture will reduce risk of infection
The decision to amputate should be made by senior staff of various specialties and should take into account the duration of ischaemia and any nerve damage
Delayed wound closure should also be considered
In primary closure 21% will become infected, in delayed closure only 3% become infected
However, failure to get skin cover in 1 week in grade IIIB open tibial fractures will lead to 77% non-union and 59% infection
Whereas if skin cover is achieved within 1 week there is 23% non-union and 8% infection
What bone grafting is done in open fracture?
Posterolateral morsellised cancellous bone graft at 6 weeks - autologous or allograft, wait for external fixator pin tracks to heal
What is a dislocation?
Complete joint disruption
What is subluxation?
Partial dislocation, not fully out of the joint
What should be done at presentation of a dislocation?
Clinical examination X-ray Note ligament and capsule damage Associated injuries e.g. fractures, neuromuscular damage Recurrent instability
In what direction does the shoulder commonly dislocate and what deformity does this result in?
Anterior
Posterior
Deformity
- squared off
- locked in internal rotation
In what direction does the elbow commonly dislocate and what deformity does this result in?
Posterior
Deformity
- olecranon prominent posteriorly
In what direction does the hip commonly dislocate and what deformity does this result in?
Posterior
Deformity
- leg short, flexed, internal rotation, adduction
In what direction does the knee commonly dislocate and what deformity does this result in?
Anteroposterior
Deformity
- loss of normal contour, extended
In what direction does the ankle commonly dislocate and what deformity does this result in?
Lateral more common
Deformity
- externally rotated
- prominent medial malleolus
In what direction do the subtalar joints commonly dislocate and what deformity does this result in?
Lateral more common
Deformity
- laterally displaced OS calcis
What are the systemic early problems and complications of fracture?
Problems
- hypovolaemia
- crush syndrome
- fat embolism
- ARDS
Complications
- bed rest complications e.g. DVT, PE
What are the systemic late problems and complications of fracture?
Problems
- psychological and social aspects
Complications
- bed rest complications
What are the local early problems and complications of fracture?
Problems
- neuromuscular damage
- skin/wound problems
- compartment syndrome
Complications
- infection
What are the local late problems and complications of fracture?
Problems
- delayed union
- non-union
- avascular necrosis
Complications
- mal-union
- CRPS type 1
- implant failure
- joint stiffness
What are the bony complications of fracture healing?
Delayed union
Non-union
Mal-union
Avascular necrosis
What is malunion?
Where the fracture has healed but not in an anatomically correct position
What is delayed union?
Where healing is taking longer than average for that fracture in that individual, may or may not go on to unite
What is non-union?
Where there is not further progress towards union
What are the conservative and operative problems with treatment?
Inadequate immobilisation
Distraction of fracture by fixation device or traction
Repeated manipulations
Periosteal stripping and soft tissue damage at operation
Anatomical vascular susceptibility e.g. femoral neck, scaphoid, talus, distal tibia
What are the types of non-union?
Atrophic - gap at fracture site, bone loss due to soft tissue interposition or pathological reason e.g. infection, tumour, AVN in bone
Hypertrophic - attempt at healing but fracture site too mobile
What are the causes of infected non-union?
Contamination in open fracture Introduction at time of operation Multiple operations Unstable fixation Metastatic sepsis on foreign body implant
What patients are more at risk of infected non-union?
Immunologically compromised patients
What is the treatment of infected non-union?
Suspect, diagnose and remove dead, devitalised and infected tissue
Obtain organism if possible, treat infection and stabilise the fracture
What is the cause of avascular necrosis?
Loss of blood supply
Classical fracture - hip, scaphoid, talus
Any bone fragment stripped of soft tissue attachments
What is the aetiology of complex regional pain syndrome, type 1?
Trauma - minor Surgery Infection Repetitive motion disorders IHD, MI Specific genetic predisposition No cause
What is the incidence of complex regional pain syndrome type 1?
Actual incidence is unknown
Higher in women