fx repair Flashcards
list the fx from most to least common
- MC/MT
- tibia
- radius/ulna
- humerus
- femur
- pelvis, phalanges, vertebrae, ribs
how do MC/MT fx happen?
calves: calving chain injuries, trampling, physeal fx (very common in calves!!)
adults: trauma
how do you tx MC/MT fx?
simple: cast (full limb)
comminuted, long oblique, spiral: transfixation pin cast, external fix, internal fix
open: external fix
how do you tx a tibia fx?
Thomas splint!!!
cast if distal, transfixation pin cast, external fix, internal fx
how do you tx radius/ulna fx?
olecranon: internal fix
radius: Thomas splint!!, transfixation pin cast, external fix, internal fix
how do femur fx happen?
calf: dystocia (calf is backwards)
adult: trauma
how do you tx a femur fx?
external fix, internal fx
can you use a Thomas splint for a femur fx?
NOOOOOOO
can you use a full limb cast for a femur fx?
NOOOOOO
tell me the relationship between success of fx tx and age/weight
success of tx is INVERSELY proportional to age and weight
tell me about salter Harris fractures
young animals - physeal fractures
1: S - straight
2: A - above
3: L - lower
4: T - through
5: ER - erase
how do you dx a fracture?
lameness, palpation, assess concurrent ST damage, open vs closed, rads!
tell me about fracture px in cattle
largely anecdotal in bovine practice - little evidence and small case numbers to quote percentage of success to clients
open, articular, and proximal limb = worse px
tell me the tx options for cattle fx from most to least economical AND least to most stable fixation (it’s the same order for both these things)
- salvage/euth
- stall confinement
- external computation (splints, Thomas splint, casts)
- external skeletal fixartors (transfixation pin casts, pins/clamps/sidebars)
- internal fixation
tell me about splints in cattle
1. when to use?
2. how to use?
- ER/temporary coaptation (most commonly), follow up to other forms of coaptation/fixation, distal MC3/MT3 (cast preferred tho)
- immobilize joint above and below fx, place at 90 degrees
when do we use casts in cattle?
MC/MT fx, closed fx w/ adequate blood supply
tell me how to use a cast in cattle
- incorporate joint above and below, include foot, neutral position
- clean/dry limb, felt application (no circumferential tape and no overlap of felt)
- can do fx reduction
- make cast even (no weak/pressure points), apply fast enough for polymerization, apply enough layers
how can you remove a cast?
- OB wire (place when putting on cast)
- oscillating cast saw
what is an importation aftercare thing when dealing with casts?
rads 24h post casting (weight bearing)
also exercise restriction, should b comfy at walk, check cast daily
tell me about when to change casts in cattle
rapidly growing calves: 2-4 wks
adults: 6-8wks
any change in comfort = remove cast
tell me about cast sores
swelling above cast, increase lameness, drainage visible on cast, smell!
if any of these, remove cast!
when do we use Thomas splints?
fx prox to carpus/tarsus, RADIAL AND TIBIAL FX
what is a transfixation pin cast?
cast + external fixator –> suspend limb in cast, transferring weight from cast tip to pins placed prox to fx
when do we use transfixation pin casts?
MC3/4, MT3/4, distal radius, distal tibia
NOT PROXIMAL TO RADIUS OR TIBIA
