Lecture 7 - MSK Flashcards
What is a pathological fracture?
Spontaneous fracture at site of bone disease (cancerous tumour, osteoporosis, poor bone density)
What is a comminuted fracture?
More than two fragments
–> Smaller fragments appear to float in X-Ray
What is an oblique vs a transverse fracture?
Oblique
–> diagonal
Transverse
–> Straight through bone
What is a greenstick fracture?
When a portion of the bone breaks and the rest bends (incomplete)
–> Common in children who have undeveloped bones.
–> Recovery is much better than other breaks
What is a stress fracture?
Bone that is subject to repeated stress such as jogging or running.
What are some common causes of non-spontaneous fractures?
Cancer and osteoporosis
What is a compression fracture?
One caused by decreased bone mass and stress on the bones (non-traumatic)
What kind of bone fracture requires the most immediate attention?
Femur
–> Highest amount of bleeding (should go into surgery w/in 6 hrs of break)
What are the manifestation of a bone fracture?
–> Immediate and localized pain
–> Decreased function distal to break
–> Inability to bear weight or use affected limb
–> Guarding
–> Swelling (can be difficult to see w adipose tissue) (the longer it is broken without treatment the more swelling)
–> Ecchymoses
–> Crepitus
–> Bleeding in open fractures
What are the nursing priorities in a person with a fracture?
–> ABCs
–> Control bleeding (pressure w tensor, elevation)
–> Monitor neurovascular status distal to injury
–> Ice
–> X-ray
–> Tetanus/diphtheria prophylaxis
Mark location of pulses to facilitate repeat assessment
What prophylaxis should be given to someone with an open fracture?
Tetanus and diptheria vaccine.
What is the primary priority in a patient with a new fracture (less than 1 week)?
Monitor neurovascular status
–> Colour, sensation, movement
What is the RICE pneumonic for a broken limb?
Rest
Ice
Compression
Elevation
How often and long should ice be used to alleviate swelling?
No more than 20 minutes and no more than once an hour
What is compartment syndrome? What kind of bones are most common with it? What are the S/S? Does it occur initially or a few days after injury?
When the pressure within a compartment increases and cuts of circulation (neurovascular interruption)
–> More common in long bones where there is a not a lot of space for swelling
–> 6Ps w pain often unrelieved by meds and out of proportion to the level of injury
Can occur initially (cell death in 4-8 hours) or delayed for several days
What are the 6Ps and compartment syndrome?
Pain, pallor, paresthesia, paralysis, pulselessness, pressure
How long does it take for ischemia resulting in cell death to occur after onset of injury with compartment syndrome?
4-8 hours
In compartment syndrome how high should we elevate the limb? Why?
What about icing?
No higher than the heart
–> May rise venous pressure
Ice results in vasoconstriction that may exacerbate compartment syndrome
What are some decompression techniques for compartment syndrome?
–> Loosen or remove bandage or cast
–> Reduce traction weight to reduce external circumferential pressure
–> Surgical decompression might be necessary
What medications should we know about a person’s hx with a fracture?
Use of:
Corticosteroids, analgesics, hormone therapy, calcium supplementation
What is osteopenia?
Decreased bone density (not bad enough to be considered osteoporosis yet)
Why do we want to know is someone takes corticosteroids with a bone fracture?
Steroids decrease bone density and can result in fractures
How long does the bone remodel after an injury? What about initial healing?
Initial healing does not occur at an expected timeline and depends on age, nutritional status, bone density, and the kind of fracture.
Remodeling can continue occurring up to a year after the injury.
How to perform a closed reduction?
Administer conscious sedation –> Propofol/Ketamine/Medazepam
Then perform non-surgical manual realignment
Traction may be used to restore position or alignment
Why would you administer ketamine over propofol?
Ketamine does not drop BP as much as propofol does
Propofol is used for cardioverting and is more shorter acting (less alters loc afterwards)
What is an open reduction?
Surgical correction of bone out of alignment through wires, screws, pins, plates, intramedullary rods, nails, etc.
What antispasmodic can we give someone to ensure alignment remains during fracture?
Oxybutin
what is the purpose of traction in fractures?
Prevent muscle spasm, promote immobilization and expand the joint.