Lecture 14 - Splinting & Casting Flashcards
What is a fracture?
Continuity of bone is broken
What is a simple fracture?
One line through bone - fracture of only the bone;
No penetration through the skin
What is a compound fracture?
Fracture in which a broken piece of bone pierces the skin
What is a comminuted fracture?
Breaking of bone into 2+ pieces
What is coaptation?
Joining or reuniting of 2 surfaces;
Often in terms of a splint designed to immobilize a fracture
What are some signs used to diagnose a fracture?
- Severe lameness
- Acute onset of clinical signs
- Swelling
- Pain on palpation
- History of trauma
- Visualize bone
How can shock be dealt with?
IVF and systemic support
(May have other life-threatening injuries such as a diaphragmatic hernia)
How should fractures be evaluated in small animals?
Using heavy sedation or anesthesia
Why should sedation to evaluate a fracture in horses be used with care?
Agitated horses override drug effects; may be ataxic (don’t want the horse to lay down)
What drug should not be used for front limb fracture in horses?
Butorphanol
What are the 5 goals of fracture stabilization?
- Prevent soft tissue damage
- Decrease patient’s anxiety
- Minimize eburnation
- Keep fracture closed
- Protect blood vessels and nerves from stretching
Why is minimizing eburnation important?
Eburnation occurs when jagged bone edges rub against each other and become smooth - makes it harder to put fractured edges back together if they are rounded
What are the 3 goals of first aid?
- Assessment of the animal
- Communication (diagnostics, prognosis)
- Create plan (hospital/farm management, referral)
Prognosis for equine fractures is _____ based on _____.
variable, location
How much does repair of long bone fractures in equines cost?
$5,000 to $10,000
When is prognosis of an equine fracture decreased?
With weight and compound fracture
How much does an adult horse weigh? Foal?
Adult = 1000-1500#
Foal/juvenile = 100-500#
What response do horses usually have when a fracture occurs?
Flight - will continue to try to use fractured limb
Small animal fracture prognosis can be _____ to _____.
good, excellent
What does small weight allow for with SA fractures?
Internal fixation, external fixation, casting, amputation