Hip 2 Flashcards
Remind yourself of the bony landmarks of the humerus
What is the common mechanism of injury for #femoral shaft?
- High energy trauma
- Fragility fracture (low energy)
- Pathological fracture
- Bisophosphonate-related fractures (classically this is a transverse fracture in proximal femur)
The femur is not highly vascularised; true or false?
False; it is highly vascularised due to its role in haematopoesis. It is supplied by penetrating branches of the profunda femoris. Consequently large volumes of blood (1500mL) can be lost when it fractures
Describe the typical presentation of someone with #femoral shaft
- Pain in thigh, +/- hip, +/- knee
- Inability to weight bear
- +/- deformity
- Proximal femur: abducted & flexed
- Distal: adducted & extended
Explain why the leg takes the following position during #femoral shaft
- Proximal: abducted & flexed
- Distal: adducted & extended
- Proximal: abducted due to gluteus medius & minimus, flexed due to iliopsoas action on lesser trochanter
- Distal: adducted due to adductor omuscles (adductor magnus, gracilis) and extended deu to pull of gastrocnemius on posterior femur
What classification is used for #femoral shaft?
Describe this classification
Winquist & Hansen (used to classify degree of comminution of femoral shaft fractures)
What investigations are required for a suspected #femoral shaft?
- Plain film radiograph (AP & lateral. Must include entire femur, hip & knee)
- ?CT is polytrauma
- Routine urgent bloods (including coagulation & group and save)
Discuss the management of a #femoral shaft, include:
- Immediate management
- Definitive management
Immediate Management
- Stabilise pt using ATLS
- Pain relief (e.g. opiods, fascia iliac block)
- Immediate reduction & immobilisation (traction splinting is used in isolated femoral shaft fractures)
Definitive Management
- Most require surgery
- Antegrade intramedullary nail
- Or retrograde IM nail if have hip replacement or concurrent lower limb fractures
- May do external fixation followed later by IM nail if pt unstable/needs optimising before defintive surgery
- Long-leg cast may be indicated in undisplaced #femoral shaft in pts not fit for surgery
Why is it important that we reduce fractures to near-anatomical alignment using in line traction?
- Ensures appropriate haematoma formation (part of healing process)
- Reduces pain
*In suspected or isolated femoral shaft fractures can use Kendrick traction splint
State some contraindications to traction splinting in #femoral shaft
- Hip or pelvic fracturs
- Supracondylar fractures
- Fractures of ankle & foot
- Partial amputation
Femoral fractures should be surgically fixed within how many hours?
24-48hrs (sooner if open fracture)
State some potential complications of femoral shaft fractures
- Neurovascular injury
- Pudendal nerve injury (10%)
- Femoral nerve injury
- Mal-union, delayed union or non-union
- Infection
- Fat embolism
- Hip flexor weakness
- Knee extensor weakness
- Limb stiffness
- Re-fracture
What symptoms would someone have if they had sustained a pudendal nerve injury during #femoral shaft?
Discuss the prognosis of femoral shaft fractures
- Pts who survive initial trauma typically heal well
- Early mobilisation reduces complications
- Pts >60yrs have mortality of 17% and overall complication rate of 54%
What is meant by a distal femoral fracture?
Fracture between the distal metaphyseal-diaphyseal junction of femur to the articular surface of femoral condyles
State some common mechanisms of injury for distal femoral fractures
- High energy tauma in younger
- Low energy trauma in older/pathological fracture
- Peri-prosthetic fracture
How do we classify distal femoral fractures?
Classify into:
- A= extra-aritcular
- B= partial articular
- C= complete articular
Partial articular can be further classified into sagittal and coronal fractures of each condyle
What is a Hoffa fracture?
Subtype of a type B distal femoral fracuture in which there is fracture of the posterior aspect of the femoral condyles in coronal plane. More commonly unicondylar affecting lateral condyle.