Fractures (trauma, stress, pathological) incl. classifications, radiology, management, complications, healing and stability Flashcards
What are the three types of connective tissues?
- Bony -osteoid made by osteoblasts
- Cartilagenous - chondroid made by chondroblasts
- Fibrous - collagenous tissue made by fibroblasts
What types of collagen are found in skin and bone?
Skin - types I and III
Bone - types I
Hyaline cartilage - type II
What are the parts of a long bone? Which part is most metabolically active?
Epiphysis, metaphysis (near epiphyseal lin) and diaphysis
Metaphysis is most metabolically active
What orientation do pathological fractures usually have?
They are usually transverse
Does bone growth occur equally along the bones?
No - ‘to the elbow I grow, from the knee I flee’
Bone growth is more active at the farthest ends from the elbow and nearest to the knee
What are the types of joints?
- Fibrous joints/syndesmoses
- Cartilaginous joints/synchondroses
- Synovial joints - allow greatest mobility
What is hilton’s law?
The nerve supply of a joint is the same as that of the overlying muscles moving the joint and the skin over the insertions
What is the name for an injury where skin is sheared from the deeper layers?
Degloving injury
How are gunshot wounds classified and which are more common?
Low-velocity - more common e.g. by handgun or revolver
High-velocity e.g. assault rifle
Why are high-velocity gunshot wounds more dangerous despite looking innocent?
Phenomenon known as cavitation
Organs are pulled along the path of the bullet
Air/debris may be sucked in causing more contamination
What is a comminuted fracture?
When bone is broken into more than 2 fragments
What are the different ways of describing fracture type?
Transverse - usually due to force applied directly to the site
Spiral or oblique fracture - due to twisting force
Greenstick - cortex on concave side usually remains intact
Crush fracture - cancellous bone due to compression fracture
Burst fracture - usually in short bone like vertebrae due to impaction of the disc
Avulsion - caused by traction and bony fragment torn off by tendon/ligament
Fracture dislocation/subluxation - malalignment of joint surfaces
What is a ‘complicated’ fracture?
One that is associated with damage to nerves, vessels or internal organs
What type of fracture?
Crush fracture
What is the difference between dislocation and subluxation?
dislocation is a complete loss of congruity of the joint surfaces
subluxation is a partial loss of contact of the joint surface