Ortho Flashcards
When there is a fracture, which X-rays do you request?
request BOTH AP and lateral films
- Radiographs must be orthogonal (at right angles) request AP and lateral films
- Need images of joint above and joint below #
what are the indications of an open reduction (+ internal fixation) ?
Intra-articular #s 2#s in 1 limb Bilat identical #s Open #s Failed conservative Rx
What are the indications for external fixation?
- Ex-Fix better for OPEN SOFT TISSUE injuries - want to reduce infection risk
- burns
- complex peri-articular #
In rehabilitation, what is the reasoning behind removal from splints/casts before full healing?
Quick return to function ↓s later morbidity
Get them using the limb before they lose full function.
what are the complications of fractures?
Intra-operative:
• Neurovascular injury
• Visceral damage
Early post-operative (<30 days):
• Compartment syndrome
• Infection (esp. with In-Fix) “osteomyelitis”
• Fat embolism ( ARDS)
Late post-operative (>30 days): • Non-union / Delayed union • Avascular necrosis (AVN) • Growth disturbance • Post-traumatic osteoarthritis • Complex regional pain syndromes • myositis ossificans
A patient has a fracture and presents with foot drop. which nerve injury could be implicated?
Hip dislocation - Sciatic nerve
Fibula neck # or Knee dislocation - Peroneal nerve
what are the presenting symptoms and signs of compartment syndrome?
which fractures are commomnly associated?
pain on passive flexion and extension (of digits?),
warm, erythematous, swollen,
weak/absent pulses, Increased CRT
fractures:
• Supracondylar fractures
• Tibial shaft fractures
usually caused by crush injury
diagnosis involves measureing compartment pressure
what is the mangement and complications of compartment syndrome?
Mx: elevate limb, remove all bandages/splint/etc.
–> fasciotomy
Complications: rhabdomyolysis, Volkmann’s contractures (fibrosis)
what are the causes of non-union?
- Ischaemia: poor blood supply or AVN
- Infection
- Interfragmentary strain (increased)
- Interposition of tissue between fragments
- Intercurrent disease (e.g. malignancy)
presentation and cause of myositis ossificans?
is calcification at sight of injured muscle
pain, focal swelling, tenderness
-> return to activity too early after injury
what are the causes and presentations of complex regional pain syndrome?
Causes:
• Injury: #s, CTS release, Dupuytren’s treatment
• VZV, MI, Idiopathic
Signs & symptoms (weeks-months after an injury):
• Not the traumatised area that is affected – this affects a NEIGHBOURING AREA
• Pain = hyperalgesia (inc. sensitivity), allodynia (pain to objects that don’t cause pain)
• Vasomotor = hot and sweaty, cold and cyanosed
• Skin = swollen, atrophic and shiny
• NM = weakness, hyper-reflexia, dystonia, contractures
Management of complex regional pain syndrome?
Pain team referral
Medical -> amytriptyline, gabapentin (neuropathic pain)
Surgical -> regional nerve blocks (use with caution according to NICE)
Presentation and management of fat embolisms?
Signs & symptoms (looks like a PE but with neurological signs):
•Hx multiple fractures, <24 hours dyspnoea, hypoxia, tachypnoea
•CNS – confusion, agitation, retinal haemorrhages, fat globules
•Dermatological – red/brown petechial rash (25-50%) – least common
Ix: nil
Mx: DVT prophylaxis, supportive care
What are the Ottawa knee rules – “X-ray only indicated if…”
o Age 55+; OR
o Isolated patellar tenderness; OR
o Cannot flex to 90 degrees, OR
o An inability to bear weight both immediately and in the emergency department for four steps
What are the Ottawa Ankle rules – “X-ray only indicated if…”
Pain AND Tenderness in malleolus OR inability to bear weight both immediately and in the emergency department for four steps
OR
Pain at midfoot
Tenderness at Base of 5th MTT OR Navicular
List causes/mnemonic for NOF fractures?
S Steroids H Hyperthyroid/hyperparathyroidism A Alcohol/Smoking T Thin (BMI <22) T Testosterone LOW E Early menopause R Renal/Liver failure E Erosive/inflammatory bone disease (RhA, MM) D Dietary Ca2+ low / malabsorption, DM
How would a NOF # present?
o O/E: shortened, externally rotated
o N.B. short + internally rotated = post. dislocation
How do we ivx a possible NOF # and what are we looking for?
1st -> XR (orthogonal; AP + lateral films): Shenton’s lines [L = N; R = broken] Intra- or extra-capsular? Displaced or non-displaced? Osteopoenic?
o 2nd CT
how would you describe a # distal to intertrochanteric line?
what is the significance of this?
minimal risk to blood supply and AVN
How do we manage Hip #s?
ORIF everything - reduce and internal fixation
Unless >65, Intracapsular -> Total hip replacement or hemiarhtroplasty if less fit
name some risk factors for osteonecrosis of femoral head?
Direct:
(irradiation, trauma (i.e. NOF), haematological disease (i.e. SCD, leukaemia), dysbaric conditions)
Indirect:
(ETOH, hypercoagulable, steroids, SLE, transplant/immunosuppressed, viral, idiopathic)
managment of AVN?
Non-operative bisphosphonates
Operative: THR, or resurfacing of femoral head etc.
How may a humeral fracture present? mechanism?
List some complications of humeral fractures?
Presentation: Elbow swollen and held semi-flexed
Mechanism: FOOSH, Osteoporosis, Elderly
o NV injury:
Brachial artery
Median nerve (ant. interosseous branch)
• Deep flexors = FPL, lateral FDP, pronator quadratus
Radial nerve
o Compartment syndrome:
S/S: early sign = pain on passive extension of fingers
Management of humeral fracture?
<2 parts: collar and cuff
> 2 parts - fixation
-> if high risk non-union => athroplasty
Supracondylar fracture - emergency:
Undisplaced - (plaster backstab)
Diisplaced - open fixation
what are the mechanisms of Colle’s and Smith’s fracture?
Both are fractures of distal radius
Colle’s:
falling on an extended wrist (FOOSH)
- dorsal/posterior displacement of radius (towards palm)
- dinner fork deformity
Smiths:
falling on an flexed wrist
- volar displacement of radius (towards palm)
Which are the intra and extra-articular fractures?
Extra:
Colle’s and Smith’s
Intra:
Bartons
name this fracture: # of proximal 3rd of ulna shaft + anterior dislocation of proximal head of radius
Monteggia #
name this fracture: # of distal 3rd of radial shaft + dislocation of distal radio-ulna joint (DRUJ)
Galeazzi #
when would a cast/splint be indicated in radial/ulna fracture
Temporary - before fixation
Definitive (minimally displaced, extra-articular #)
How are scaphoid fractures often obtained?
presenting symptoms?
FOOSH or contact sports
age = 22 (9-35yo)
5 main signs [strong sensitivity/specificity when used together]:
o [1] Pain in the anatomical snuffbox
o [2] Wrist joint effusion
o [3] Pain on telescoping thumb (push thumb into its joint)
o [4] Tenderness on scaphoid tubercle
o [5] Pain on ulnar deviation of wrist
How do we manage scaphoid fractures?
Before XRays:
1st: Futuro splint / below-elbow back-slab (beer glass hand) – done before the XR has taken place
After X-ray:
o XR +ve:
Undisplaced (at scaphoid waist) cast for 6-8 weeks (union in 95%)
Displaced (at scaphoid waist) ORIF
Undisplaced/displaced (at proximal scaphoid pole) ORIF
List complications of scaphoid fractures?
o AVN of scaphoid (retrograde blood supply)
S/S: stiffness and pain at the wrist
o Early osteoarthritis
complications of tibial plataeu fractures?
mx of these fractures?
o Concomitant ligamentous / meniscal injury can occur
mx;
- ORIF + Hinged knee brace
- External fixation if soft tissue injury
What is the most common long bone #?
Tibial # = most common long bone #; most common long bone open fracture (21%)
List fractures involving ankle joint?
1o Pott’s fracture = a bimalleolar fracture (an umbrella term)
2o Cotton’s fracture = a trimalleolar fracture (an umbrella term)
3o Pilon fracture = a fracture of the distal tibia involving the articular surface
4o Maisonneuve fracture: high fibular fracture
How do we manage ankle fractures?
Weber classification - position of fracture in relation to syndesmosis
A - (these are more stable)
oWeber A or B (non-displaced) -> Boot OR below-knee POP (A: weight-bearing as able, B: non-WB for 6 weeks)
oWeber B (displaced) or C ORIF ± syndesmosis repair
How does a Lisfranc injury present?
Gross midfoot swelling
Severe midfoot pain
Unable to WB
Medial plantar bruising
how would you ivx a pelvic fracture?
XR, urethrogram, CT ± angiography;
Signs & symptoms of a patellar fracture?
what XRay views may you want?
o Palpable patellar defect o Haemarthrosis (significant) o Loss of SLR (Straight Leg Raise) = loss of extensor mechanisms
Xrays - AP, Lateral, skyline
when is operative repair needed in patella fracture?
Loss of SLR, open #, displacement -> ORIF
Comminution
What is primary bone healing? Under which conditions may this take place?
This is when bone beals without callus formation.
Can take place if fracture is reduced well and stabilised rigidly so that the fracture gap is very small. Also occurs if fracture was very minor.
Which ankle fractures require ORIFs?
Disruption of the syndesmosis
Dusplaced and involvong shift of talus
What makes up the ankle joint
Tibia (medial malleolus)
Fibula (laterla malleolus)
Talus
List the type of fractures
Stress fractures aka incomplete
Fragility fractures
Insufficiency fractures
How do you tell difference in superficial vs deep indection in ortho/radiology?
Deep infections:
Intracapsular - septic arthritis
Bone infections eg osteomyelitis
Signs and symptoms of compartment syndrome?
o Pain, especially on movement (even passive)
o Excessive use of breakthrough analgesia (should raise suspicion for compartment syndrome)
o Paraesthesia, pallor, paralysis
o Arterial pulsation may still be felt as the necrosis occurs as a result of microvascular compromise (i.e. the presence of a pulse does not rule out compartment syndrome) – muscle death occurs in 4-6 hours
how do we ivx compartment syndrome?
Delta pressure <30mmHg = compartment syndrome (relative indication)
- delta pressure (DBP – ICP (Intra-compartmental pressure)
Absolute pressure >30mmHg = compartment syndrome
What is the management of comaprtment syndrome?
o Non-operative:
Ensure normotension (fluid resuscitation)
Remove circumferential bandages and casts
Maintain limb at level of heart – as elevation reduces arterial inflow and tissue perfusion
o Operative:
Fasciotomy
List complications of compartment syndrome
Volkmann’s contractures Sensory loss Weak dorsiflexors Chronic pain Claw toe Amputation
How do you know if there is syndesmosis injury in the ankle?
the following have high sensitivity:
- inability to walk
- inability to hop
- mechanism of injury involving dorsiflexion or external rotation