MSK Flashcards
Stages of Fracture Healing
- Haematoma
- Inflammation –> Granulation tissue
- Cartilage callus
- Lamellar bone (primary
- Remodelling –> secondary bone
Factors that affect fracture healing
- Age
- malnourished
- local pathology
- neurological condiitons
- NSAIDs
- smoking
- DM
- Hormones - Cortisol, GH, Oestrogen, T3 &4, PTH
Describing a fracture
- Patient details
- Pattern of fracture
- anatomical location
- Intra/extra - articular
- Deformity (translation/ angulation)
- Soft tissue involvement
- Specific # classification
General priniciples of fractures management
4R's Resuscitation - & assess NV status Reduction Restriction Rehabilitation (PT, OT, home help)
Open fracture management
Analgesia: M+M
Assess: NV status, soft tissues, photograph
Antisepsis: wound swab, copious irrigation, cover with
betadine-soaked dressing.
Alignment: align # and splint
Anti-tetanus: check status (booster lasts 10yrs)
Abx - Fluclox 500mg IV/IM or Co-amox
Mx: debridement and fixation in theatre
Gustillo’s classification of open fractures
- Wound <1cm in length
- Wound ≥1cm c¯ minimal soft tissue damage
- Extensive soft tissue damage
a) periosteal stripping
b) requires free tissue flap
3) NV damage
Major complication of open fractures
Wound infections and gas gangrene (clostridium perfringes)
± shock and renal failure
Rx: debride, benpen + clindamycin
Methods of reduction in fractures
Manipulation / Closed reduction
Under LA, RA, GA
Traction to disimpact
Manipulation to align
Traction
Employed to overcome contraction of large
muscles: e.g. femoral #s
Skeletal traction vs. skin traction
Open reduction (and internal fixation) Accurate reduction vs. risks of surgery Intra-articular #s Open #s 2 #s in 1 limb Failed conservative Rx Bilat identical #s
General complications of fractures
Tissue Damage
Haemorrhage and shock
Infection
Muscle damage → rhabdomyolysis
Anaesthesia
Anaphylaxis
Damage to teeth
Aspiration
Prolonged Bed Rest Chest infection, UTI Pressure sores and muscle wasting DVT, PE ↓ BMD
Specific fracture complications
Immediate Neurovascular damage Visceral damage Early Compartment syn. Infection (worse if metal) Fat embolism → ARDS Late Problems - union AVN Growth disturbance Post-traumatic OA CRPS Myositis ossificans
Pathophysiology of compartment syndrome
Raised pressure within any enclosed facial space leading to localised tissue ischaemia
Oedema following # → ↑ compartment pressure → ↓
venous drainage → ↑ compartment pressure
If compartment pressure > capillary pressure →
ischaemia
Muscle infarction →
- Rhabdomyolysis and ATN
- Fibrosis → Volkman’s ischaemic contracture
Presentation of compartment syndrome
Pain > clinical findings (not relieved by analgesia)
Pain on passive muscle stretching
Warm, erythematous, swollen limb
↑ CRT and weak/absent peripheral pulses
shiny skin
tense compartment
+/- paraesthesiae
Prevention of compartment syndrome
avoid repeated manipulation
use open plaster initially
elevate leg
mobilise early
Rx of compartment syndrome
Elevate limb Remove all bandages and split/remove cast Get senior help Prophylactic Abx and Analegesia Fasciotomy
Problems with union
Delayed Union: union takes longer than expected
Non-union: # fails to unite - Hypertrophic Bone end is rounded, dense and sclerotic - Atrophic Bone looks osteopenic
Malunion: # healed in an imperfect position
Poor appearance and/or function
Causes of non/delayed union
Ischaemia: poor blood supply or AVN
Infection
↑ interfragmentary strain
Interposition of tissue between fragments
Intercurrent disease: e.g. malignancy or malnutrition
Management of delayed/ non-union
Optimise biology: infection, blood supply, bone
graft, BMPs
Optimise mechanics: ORIF
Features of AVN
Death of bone due to deficient blood supply.
Sites: femoral head, scaphoid, talus
Consequence: bone becomes soft and deformed
→ pain, stiffness and OA.
X-ray: sclerosis and deformity.
Features of myositis ossificans
Heterotopic ossification of muscle @ sites of
haematoma formation
→ restricted, painful movement
Commonly affects the elbow and quadriceps
Can be excised surgically
Definition of complex regional pain syndrome
Complex disorder of pain, sensory abnormalities,
abnormal blood flow, sweating and trophic changes in
superficial or deep tissues.
No evidence of nerve injury.
(type 2 - persistent pain following injury caused by nerve lesions)
Causes and presentation of CRPS
Causes
Injury: #s, carpal tunnel release, ops for Dupuytren’s
Zoster, MI, Idiopathic
Presentation
Wks – months after injury
NOT traumatised area that is affected: affects a
NEIGHBOURING area.
Lancing pain, hyperalgesia or allodynia
Vasomotor: hot and sweaty or cold and cyanosed
Skin: swollen or atrophic and shiny.
NM: weakness, hyper-reflexia, dystonia, contractures
Rx of CRPS
Usually self-limiting
Refer to pain team
Amitryptilline, gabapentin
Sympathetic nerve blocks can be tried.
Salter harris classification
- Straight across physis
- Above (metaphysis)
- Lower (epiphysis)
- Through (all 3)
- CRUSH
TYPE 2 most common
Risk factors for osteoporosis
SHATTERERED Steroids Hyper- para/thyroidism Alcohol and Cigarettes Thin (BMI<22) Testosterone low Early Menopause Renal / liver failure Erosive / inflame bone disease (e.g. RA, myeloma) Dietary Ca low / malabsorption, DM
Age
Presentation of a hip fracture
Shortened and externally rotated
Pain
Initial management of a hip fracture
- Resuscitate: dehydration, hypothermia
- Analgesia
- Assess NV status of limb
- Imaging: AP and lateral films
Garden classification of intracapsular fractures
- Incomplete #, undisplaced
- Complete #, undisplaced
- Complete #, partially displaced
- Complete #, completely displaced
Classification of hip fractures
Intracapsular: subcapital, transcervical, basicervical
Extracapsular: Intertrochanteric, subtrochanteric
Blood supply to the femoral head
- Intramedullary vessels in femoral neck - Interrupted by #
- Ascending branches of medial (Major contributor) and lateral circumflex femoral arteries, which travel in the capsular retinaculum. - Can be torn if # is displaced
- Vessels of the ligamentum teres - Insufficient in adults.
Specific complications of hip fractures
AVN of fem head in displaced #s (30%) Non / mal-union (10-30%) Infection OA Intracapsular haematoma (garden 3&4)
Surgical management of hip fractures
Intracapsular 1,2: ORIF (cancellous/transcervical screws) - hemi if unfit 3,4: <55: ORIF c¯ screws. - arthroplasty if AVN 55-75: total hip replacement >75: hemiarthroplasty
Extracapsular
ORIF - dynamic hip screw
What score is used to predict the outcomes of hip fractures
Nottingham hip fracture score
- Age
- SEx
- Hb
- Residence
- Co-morbidities
- Malignancy
- additionally high venous lactate is a predictor of early death
Features of a colles fracture
Fall onto an outstretched hand
Most common in elderly females c¯ osteoporosis
Dinner fork deformity
Radiographic features of a colles fracture
Extra-articular transverse # of dist. radius (w/i 1.5” of radio-carpal joint)
Dorsal displacement and angulation of distal fragment
- Normally 11° volar tilt
- ↓ radial height (<11mm)
- ↓ radial inclination (<22°)
± avulsion of ulna styloid
± impaction
Management of colles fracture
- Examine for NV injury (median N and radial A)
- displacement → reduction
RA/ GA.
Disimpact and correct angulation.
Position: ulnar deviation + some wrist flexion
Apply dorsal backslab: provide 3-point pressure - Re X-Ray – satisfactory position?
No: ortho review and consider MUA ± K wires
Yes: home c¯ # clinic f/up w/i 48hrs for completion
of POP - 6 wks in POP + physio
- If comminuted, intra-articular or re-displaces:
Surgical fixation c¯ ex-fix, Kirschner-wires or
ORIF and plates.
Specific complications of colles fracture
Median N. injury Frozen shoulder / adhesive capsulitis Tendon rupture: esp. EPL Carpal tunnel syn. Mal- /non-union Sudek’s atrophy / CRPS
What is a Barton’s fracture
Oblique intra-articular # involving the dorsal aspect of
distal radius and dislocation of radio-carpal joint
Management of a Buckle and greenstick fracture
Buckle - 2 weeks plaster, 2 weeks reduced activity
Greenstick - closed reduction and arm immobilisation f r6 weeks
Clinical features of a scaphoid fracture
FOOSH
Pain in anatomical snuffbox
Pain on telescoping the thumb
Management of a scaphoid fracture
Sscaphoid x-ray view
initially treat even if hx suggestive
- If initial x-ray is negative, pt. returns to # clinic after 10
days for re-xray (as localised decalcification)
Place wrist in scaphoid plaster (beer glass position)
# visible → plaster for 6 wks
No visible # but clinically tender → plaster for 2
wks
# not visible and not clinically tender → no plaster
Specific complications of a scaphoid fracture
AVN of the scaphoid as blood supply runs
distal to proximal.
→ stiffness and pain at the wrist
Classification of ulna shaft fractures
Monteggia
# of proximal 3rd of ulna shaft
Anterior dislocation of radial head at capitellum
May → palsy of deep branch of radial nerve →
weak finger extension but no sensory loss
Classification of radial shaft fractures
Galleazzi
# of radial shaft between mid and distal 3rds
Dislocation of distal radio-ulna joint
Management of ulnar and radial shaft fractures
Unstable fractures
Adults: ORIF
Children: MUA + above elbow plaster
Fractures of forearm should be plastered in most stable position: Proximal #: supination Distal #: pronation Mid-shaft #: neutral
Most common form of shoulder dislocation
Humeral head dislocates antero-inferiorly
- direct trauma/ falling on hand
Lesions associated with shoulder dislocation
Bankart Lesion
Damage to anteroinferior glenoid labrum.
Hill-Sachs Lesion
Cortical depression in the posterolateral part of the
humeral head following impaction against the glenoid
rim during ant dislocation.
Presentation of shoulder dislocation
Shoulder contour lost: appears square
Bulge in infraclavicular fossa: humeral head
Arm supported in opposite hand
Severe pain