Imaging And Fractures Flashcards
What is an X-ray and how does it work
An electromagnetic wave of high energy with a very short wavelength
Means its able to pass through many materials opaque to light
Produces and image known as a radiograph
Give 4 advantages of x-rays
Easy to access
Cheaper
Non-invasive
Less radiation than CT
Name 3 disadvantages of x-rays
Limited soft tissue details
Radiation exposure- 10 days background radiation exposure
Needs 2 views to assess- may miss injuries with only 1 view
What does CT stand for
Computerised tomography
Name 3 advantages of CT scans
More detailed than x-ray
3D image produced
Painless
Give 4 disadvantages of CT scans
Time consuming compared to x-ray
Expensive
Higher radiation than x-ray
Sometimes needs contrast- iodine
What does MRI stand for
Magnetic resonance imaging
How does an MRI work
Magnets align protons in the atoms of the body
Radio wave then knocks them out of alignment
Causes a change in the signal received by the machine
This then converted into an image
What are the two different weightings of an MRI
T1- known as anatomical- tissues look more similar to real life
T2- water in body appears white
What are 2 advantages of MRIs
No radiation
More detail than CT- good for tissues such as nerves
What are 4 disadvantages of MRIs
Expensive
Claustrophobic
Time consuming
Difficult if patient has metal implants in body
What is an ultrasound and how does it work
Uses a high frequency sound waves from a transducer
Waves reflected or slowed down by tissues of body
Waves picked up by sensor and converted into an image
Name 4 advantages of ultrasounds
No radiation
Performed at beside
Can be used for procedures
Repeatable
Name 3 disadvantages of ultrasounds
User dependent- if doctors or nurses not skilled image wont be good
Patient dependent- anatomy of patient may be hard to see
Often used as rule in not rule out- means is you see something abormal its abnormal- if you cant see anything it doesn’t mean its not normal
What does the sagittal plane do or show
Divides body into left and right
What anatomical plane divides the body into left to right
Sagittal
What does the coronal plane divide the body into
Into anterior and posterior
What anatomical plane divides the body into anterior and posterior
The coronal plane
What does the transverse or axial plane divide the body into
Superior and inferior
What plane divides the body into inferior and superior
Transverse plane
Also known as axial plane e
What is the definition of a fracture
A break in the structural continuation of the bone
When is a fracture considered open
If the overlying skin is broken
When is a fracture considered closed
If the overlying skin is left intact
In a fracture, if the skin has a small wound what is the fracture considered
Open
In a fracture, if the skin remains intact, what kind of fracture is it
Closed
What are the 5 steps in identifying a fracture
Check radiograph
See fracture type
See fracture location
Fracture displacement
Anything else
What 5 things do you do when seeing or checking a radiograph
Correct patient
Correct image
Multiple views
Right body area
Right time and date
What are the three different fracture types
Complete, incomplete and salter Harris
What are the 4 different types of complete fractures
Transverse
Oblique
Spiral
Comminuted
What does a transverse fracture look like
Bone snapped straight through
What does an oblique fracture look like
A snapped straight through but at an angle
What does a spiral fracture look like
A bone snapped straight through but in the shape of a twisted cork screw
What does a comminuted fracture look like
A bone snapped straight through into multiple parts- bit like shattered glass
What are the 3 different types of incomplete fractures
Bowing
Buckle
Greenstick
What does a bowing fracture look like
Bone that has bent- looks a bit like a banana
What does a buckle fracture look like
Bone has impacted in on itself- like two tectonic plates going in on each other and forming a mountain or volcano
What does a greenstick fracture look like
Bone slightly chipped- not completely snapped through
What is a slater Harris fracture located
Fracture affecting the growth plate of a bone- mostly in children
A bone snapped straight through is what kind of fracture
Transverse
A bone snapped straight through but at an angle is what kind of fracture
Oblique
A bone snapped straight through but in the shape of a twisted cork screw is what kind of fracture
Spiral
A bone snapped straight through into multiple parts- bit like shattered glass is what kind of fracture
Comminuted
A Bone that has bent- looks a bit like a banana is what kind of fracture
Bowing
A bone that has impacted in on itself- like two tectonic plates going in on each other and forming a mountain or volcano is what kind of fracture
Buckle
A bone slightly chipped- not completely snapped through is what kind of fracture
Greenstick
Fractures affecting the growth plate of a bone- mostly in children are what kind of fractures
Salter Harris
What are the 4 steps of fracture management
Resuscitate- advanced trauma life support (ATLS)- not distracted by obvious injury- check airways
Reduce- restore normal anatomy of bone- put bone back into place as well as possible
Hold- use plaster cast or splint or internal/ external fixation
Rehabilitation
What are the 4 steps of fracture healing
- Haematoma formation- bleeding leading to accumulation of blood
- Fibrocartilaginous callus formation- soft callus
- Ossification of callus- hard callus
- Bone remodelling
