Language Of Fractures Flashcards
Both cortices of bone have been fractured
Complete Fx
Only 1 cortex has been fractured
Incomplete Fx
What is an open fx?
Fx site communicates with the outside environment
Skin and soft tissues overlying the fx are intact
Closed Fx
A fx that has more than 2 fragments?
Comminuted
What are the directions of fracture lines?
Transverse
Oblique
Spiral
NOTE: the steeper the angle the more unstable the fx
Fracture line is perpendicular to the cortical bone or long axis?
Transverse fx
Fracture line runs obliquely to the cortical bone or long axis?
oblique fx
Caused by torsional force that encircles the shaft of the long bone?
Spiral fx
What are some descriptive terms of fractures?
Distraction Impaction Compression Avulsion Segmental
Opposing ends of fx fragments are kept apart?
Distraction
One fragment is forcibly driven or telescoped into an adjacent fragment, or kept pressed against each other?
Impaction
A form of impaction, where a flat surface of one bone forces the adjacent flat surface to compress (i.e. vertebral body)
Compression
Fragments of bone are pulled away from their original position by soft tissue attachments (usually tendon or ligament) causing displacement of the fx fragment?
Avulsion
What are some examples of avulsion fractures?
Mallet Finger
5th metatarsal fx
Sigone Fx (lateral plateau of knee)?
Fx of long bone at different levels creating at least 3 distinct segments?
Segmental
What is position?
Relationship of fragments to their normal anatomical structure
What is displacement?
Loss of position
Alignment
Relationship of the longitudinal axis of one fragment to another
What is angulation
Result of mal-alignment
NOTE
Use anatomical description to describe displacement and angulation (Volar, dorsal, medial, lateral)
NOTE
For position and alignment describe the distal fragment in relation to the proximal segment
What is a pathologic fracture?
Fracture that occurs through abnormal or weakened bone
What are the causes of pathologic fractures?
- Local bony changes secondary to infection, benign or malignant tumors, diffuse osteopenia, or systemic disease such as osteogenesis
- Stress fracture
What is a stress fracture?
Fracture resulting from repeated micro-trauma to otherwise normal bone (March fx, Tibia fx)
What are some clinical features of fractures? 5
- Pain & tenderness: Subjective, variable, may be only sx
- Loss of function: 2˚ to pain or loss of structural integrity
- Deformity: 2˚ to swelling, loss of tissue integrity, angulation, displacement of fx
- Abnormal mobility or crepitus
- Neurovascular injury: May exist without fx-Examine & document with any injury
What is the test of choice for dx of fx?
Radiographs
What is the minimum number of x-rays needed for fx dx?
Minimum of 2 views
90˚ apart (AP/Lateral)
Consider stress views/comparison views (pediatric elbow fx)
When would a CT scan be used for fx dx?
When x-ray is negative, but fx still suspected
CT allows cross-sectional imaging from a series of x-ray beams. The x-ray tube is rotated 360˚ around the pt, and the computer converts it into a 2 dimensional axial image
What 3 planes is the CT capable of imaging in?
Coronal, Sagital, Oblique
What is CT particularly useful in?
Very useful in evaluating fx and bone tumors
What is a Bone Scan?
What will the lesion look like?
Radioisotope technique indicative of blood flow and thereby of bone formation and destruction.
Lesion will show increased uptake of radioisotope and appear as a dark area in the bone.
NOTE: sensitive but not always specific. Helps if high probability dx prior to study
What are bone scans used to identify?
Lesions such as fx, infections, or tumor
Also used to assess for prosthetic loosening
What is an Arthrogram?
Technique of injecting contrast material into the joint to evaluate joint capsule and articular surface integrity. Radiologist uses fluoroscopy or ultrasound to guide needle placement into the joint.
When is an arthrogram useful?
Shoulders and hips to assess the labrum
Wrists to show any tear of small ligaments
What is an MRI?
Uses radio frequency in the presence of high magnetic field to produce high quality images of the body in any plane.
When is MRI useful?
Dx soft tissue injuries, tumors, stress fractures, and infection
Hip fx not showing on x-ray
What are the 4 terms related to fracture union?
- Delayed Union
- Nonunion
- Pseudoarthrosis
- Malunion
Fracture fails to unite in the expected time for healing. Fracture repair is occurring just slowly
Delayed Union
Failure of fracture fragments to unite with processes of bone repair having ceased
Non union