Injuries to bones and joints of lower limb Flashcards
What is the definition of a fracture?
A breach of the integrity of part or the whole of a bone.
What is subluxation?
Partial separation of the articular surfaces of the joint
What is dislocation?
Complete separation of the articular surfaces of a joint.
In what cases could a dislocation occur spontaneously?
A congenital dislocation could occur in a baby at the hip joint.
What is a fracture dislocation?
A dislocation where there is also a fracture involving one or more of the articular surfaces of a joint.
What is a sprain?
Stretching of the joint capsule and ligaments of a joint., insufficient to produce subluxation or dislocation.
What is the mechanism of fracture formation?
Strength of the bone and degree of force/stress put on it.
What is osteogenesis imperfecta?
Brittle bone disease, is a group of genetic disorders that mainly affect the bones. It results in bones that break easily. The severity may be mild to severe. Due to mutations in the collage type 1 coding genes.
What are the clinical signs and symptoms of a fracture and what are the 3 special cardinal symptoms?
Pain, swelling, tenderness, bruising
Cardinal factors - DEFORMITY, CREPITUS, ABNORMAL MOVEMENT
What are all muscle compartments covered in?
Fascial layer
What is compartment syndrome?
painful condition that occurs when pressure within the muscles builds to dangerous levels. This pressure can decrease blood flow, which prevents nourishment and oxygen from reaching nerve and muscle cells.
What is a compound fracture?
A fracture in which a bone is sticking through the skin. Also known as an open ‘fracture.
From within
From without (bone comes out of hole)
What are the three types of fracture unions?
Delayed union - longer than expected
Non-union - Does not unite (alcoholics)
Mal-union - joins in the wrong alignment
What techniques can you use to diagnose a fracture?
History and Examination X-ray CAT scan (computerised axial tomography) MRI scan (soft tissue and vascular) Ultrasound Bone scan - vascularity
What can happen as a result of pelvic fractures?
Blood loss
Nerve Injury
Abdominal Injury
What body part (organ) is most commonly injured as a result of pelvic fractures?
Bladder, urethra and sacral plexus
Bowel is not really affected
What is an open book fracture?
Pubic symphisis is disrupted - metal plate would be needed to hold surfaces together
What is an intra-articular fracture?
An intraarticular fracture is a bone fracture in which the break crosses into the surface of a joint. This always results in damage to the cartilage.
What are the two types of intra-capsular fractures?
Subcapital and transcervical (inside joint capsule)
What is an extra-capsular fracture?
Outside a joint capsule
What do we have to be careful of from a intracapsular fracture?
Avascular necrosis
The younger the patient, the greater or lesser the risk of avascular necrosis?
Greater risk to blood supply and therefore AVN. As the force needed to break it is higher.
What is chondrolysis?
Chondrolysis refers to the process of breakdown of cartilage. Cartilage of joint is abruptly lost.
What time period must you treat a intracapsular fracture within?
6 hours - risk of AVN
