LE Fractures Flashcards
Pelvic Fractures
More prevalent in elderly
High impact injury (MVC) for younger people
May or may not be able to ambulate
May have pain radiating to groin
Can be confused for hip fx
In high impact injuries also check for bladder injury
Pelvis XRAY
MOI of Pelvic Fractures
MOI: Most common is fall
Pubic Rami Fracture Treatment
Non-displaced will usually do bed to chair with no weight bearing (NWB) on the affected side for anywhere from 2 to 6 weeks depending on the age
Always check for bladder injury by obtaining a urine to look for blood
Displacement of the fracture may require ORIF with plating as this can be an unstable fx
Pelvic Ring Fracture Treatment
Usually occurs from high energy injury
ATLS primary & secondary survey required
Diastasis > 2.5 cm requires ORIF
Iliac wing fracture treatment
Isolated fractures from the anterior non-weight bearing portion are relatively stable fractures & requires conservative treatment
Posterior fractures that involve the weight bearing surface are treated surgically with ORIF & require ATLS primary & secondary survey on initial presentation
Hip fracture MOI
usually fall in the elderly or high impact injury in younger
What occurs with a Hip Fracture
Limb is shortened & externally rotated
Pain in groin & anterior thigh
Unable to ambulate
Some with impacted fx may be able to ambulate for a short period of time
What would you order with a hip fracture?
Always include pelvis with hip XRAY to compare side to side
If plain film equivocal & high index of suspicion get an MRI 100% sensitivity
CT requires radiation & bone scan has 72 hour delay
Garden Classification System for femoral neck fractures?
Type 1 = impaction fracture with valgus displacement will usually occur in the sub capital area
Type 2 = non-displaced fracture
Type 3 = varus displacement of the femoral head
Type 4 = complete loss of continuity between fragments
Treatment of Garden Type 1 & Type 2 Fractures
Usually treated with cannulated screws
Up to 40% will develop AVN of the femoral head
If the patient is not a candidate for surgery the fx will heal with bed to chair & no weight bearing on the affected side for 6 weeks or more
Garden Type 3 fracture
Complete fx with varus displacement
Usually requires reduction
Garden Type 4 fracture
Complete loss of continuity between fragments
Usually requires a reduction
Garden Type 3 & Type 4 Fracture Treatment
> 70 y/o the literature recommends hemiarthroplasty as there is a high rate of non-union & AVN
< 50 y/o recommendation is reduction & internal fixation with cannulated screws
< 50 y/o if unstable compression screw & plate is recommended
Greater and Lesser Trochanter Fractures
Stable
Usually occur as avulsion fxs
Treated conservatively with rest & weight bearing as tolerated
Intertrochanteric fractures
Occurs between the greater trochanter where the gluteus medius & gluteus minimus attach & the lesser trochanter where the iliopsoas attaches
Classified as stable or unstable
Two part or three part is considered stable & treated with a compression screw & plate
Four part or greater is considered & treated with a sliding hip screw & intermedullary nail
Subtrochanteric Fractures
Occur below the greater & lesser trochanter
Always repaired surgically
Locking screw & IM nail is the standard
Hip Dislocations
High energy traumatic injury in the normal hip
Can occur after Total Hip Arthroplasty (THA) if restrictions of position are not maintained
MVC accounts for 2/3 of all traumatic hip dislocations
Posterior dislocation occurs in 80-90% of all dislocations secondary to MVC
Trauma patients should have ATLS primary & secondary survey
Present with severe pain that may radiate to the lower extremities, back, or pelvic area & an inability to move the leg on the affected side
THA patients may not have too much pain but are unable to move their hip & the lower leg appears internally rotated
All patients require a hip & pelvis x-ray
Treatment for a hip displacement
Trauma patients must be stabilized first before reduction
Trauma patients may have to go to the OR for either closed or open reduction
THA patients usually have closed reduction under conscious sedation
MOI of femur fractures
usually high impact injury
Femur Fractures
Can be pathologic May also occur around prosthesis or ORIF components Tender to palpation Unable to ambulate Many have deformities Needs good N/V check XRAY femur If proximal may need to include hip If distal may need to include knee
Femur Fracture treatment
external fixation
intramedullary nailing
plates and screws
External Fixation
metal pins or screws are placed into the bone above and below the fracture site. The pins and screws are attached to a bar outside the skin. This device is a stabilizing frame that holds the bones in the proper position so they can heal.
External fixation is usually a temporary treatment for femur fractures
Intramedullary nailing
MC used
a specially designed metal rod is inserted into the marrow canal of the femur. The rod passes across the fracture to keep it in position.
An intramedullary nail can be inserted into the canal either at the hip or the knee through a small incision. It is screwed to the bone at both ends. This keeps the nail and the bone in proper position during healing.
plates and screws
bone fragments are first repositioned (reduced) into their normal alignment. They are held together with special screws and metal plates attached to the outer surface of the bone.
Plates and screws are often used when intramedullary nailing may not be possible, such as for fractures that extend into either the hip or knee joints
MOI of knee fractures
direct blow to anterior or lateral aspect, twisting, hyperextension
knee fractures
Present with pain & swelling
May be unable to bear full weight
Pain is worse with movement
Plain film XRAY is adequate to assess for fx
If soft tissue injury is suspected need MRI
If XRAY is equivocal & high index for suspicion for fx CT is indicated
In transverse fx’s of Patella Sunrise view may turn a non-surgical case into a surgical case
Tibial Plateau fractures
Intra-articular fx of proximal tibia 60-70% involve lateral tibial plateau 10-20% involve medial tibial plateau Common in the elderly High energy injury in young Present with acute hemarthrosis Unable to bear weight Joint line tenderness Decreased ROM Assess for popliteal artery & peroneal nerve injury
Treatment for tibial plateau fractures
Non-displaced fxs can be treated non-operatively with a knee immobilized & non-weight bearing for 6 weeks
Depressed or displaced fxs are usually surgically repaired using screws or plates & screws & may also need bone grafting
Surgically repaired fxs require non-weight bearing for 2 to 4 weeks & progress to light touch-down weight bearing & then weight bear as tolerated after 6 weeks
Patella fracture
Largest sesamoid bone in body
Integral part of extensor mechanism
1% of all fractures
Transverse fx is most common
Can occur at any age
MOI: direct or indirect trauma or dislocation
Present with pain, swelling, & ecchymosis
Weak or absent ability to extend depends on fracture pattern
Sunrise view is for alignment for vertical fx’s not to evaluate transverse fx’s of the patella
Patella Subluxation
The kneecap is designed to fit in the center of the trochlear groove (a groove on the femur), and slide evenly within the groove
In some people, the kneecap is pulled towards the outside of the knee & does not slide centrally within its groove
Patients who experience an unstable kneecap have a kneecap that does not slide centrally within its groove
Depending on the severity of the patellar subluxation, this improper tracking may not cause the patient any problems, or it may lead to patella dislocation
Etiology of patella subluxation
Dozens of factors implicated in the cause of patellar subluxation.
Factors that lead to instabiltiy of the kneecap:
A wider pelvis
A shallow groove for the kneecap
Abnormalaties in gait
Treatment for patella subluxation
First ensure that the patella is not dislocated
X-rays are taken to see if the kneecap is outside of its groove
Patients with a patellar dislocation, the kneecap may need a closed reduction
Physical Therapy
Bracing and Taping
Better Footware
Physical therapy for patella subluxation
Strengthen their VMO (part of the quadriceps muscle) to realign the pull on the kneecap.
More recent research has shown that this is probably not the critical factor in eliminating kneecap problems. Focusing instead on strengthening of the hip abductors and hip flexors (so-called pelvic stabilization exercises) offers better control of the kneecap
Better Footwear for patella subluxation
Footwear contributes to the gait cycle.
Motion control running shoes may help control your gait while running and decrease the pressure on the kneecap.