Ortho 2: Modules Flashcards
What is a general approach to reading & reporting XR in ortho?
- Pt ID
- Views and body part (eg AP, lateral)
- Sufficient vs not (long bone: joint above and below, 2 perpendicular views)
- Soft tissue: swelling?
- Cortex: discontinuity?
- Medulla: lucent areas?
What is a general approach to describing fractures?
- Which bone
- Where along the bone
- Type of fracture
- Displacement
- Angulation
- Shortening
How is displacement or translation described (in a fracture)?
Position of distal segment relative to proximal (Anterior, posterior, medial, lateral)
Apposition (% of contact between fragments)
What does angulation of a fracture describe?
Which direction the apex of the angulated # is facing
How do you describe where on a bone a fracture is?
Epiphyseal, metaphyseal, diaphyseal
What is a segmental fracture?
Fracture composed of at least two # lines that together isolate a segment of bone
What is the difference between a segmental vs a comminuted fracture?
Segmental has a single segment, comminuted has multiple
What are the main fracture types?
Transverse Linear Oblique (displaced or non-displaced) Spiral Greenstick Comminuted
What is the 11-22-11 rule of the normal wrist?
Radial height 11mm
Radial inclination 22 degrees
Volar tilt 11 degrees
What is the Garden classification?
Classifies subcapital femoral neck fractures
Garden stage I: incomplete fracture, undisplaced (including valgus impacted fractures)
Garden stage II: complete fracture, undisplaced
Garden stage III: complete fracture, incompletely displaced
Garden stage IV: complete fracture, completely displaced
How does prognosis change with Garden stage I & II vs III & IV fractures?
In general:
stage I and II: stable fractures – can be treated with internal fixation (head-preservation)
stage III and VI: unstable fractures – treated with arthroplasty (either hemi- or total arthroplasty)
What is the Shenton line?
Imaginary curved line along inferior anterior pelvis & femur – should be continuous
What is the Weber classification?
Classifies ankle fractures by level of fibular fracture relative to syndesmosis
A: below syndesmosis
B: level of syndesmosis
C: above syndesmosis
Which part of the physis is the most susceptible to fracture?
Hypertrophic
What is the Salter-Harris classification of fractures?
Classifies growth plate fractures I: physis (eg transverse along physis) II: physis into metaphysis III: physis into epiphysis IV: physis into both metaphysis and epiphysis (eg obliguely through all three) V: physis crush injury
Mnemonic: SALTR Straight through / Stable Above Low Through and through Ram
In which patients should you assume cervical spine injury?
Head trauma High energy trauma Neuro deficit Neck pain Obtunded LOC
What additional precaution must be taken when immobilizing a child with suspected spinal injury (pediatric spines)?
Head larger, so they must be on pad or must be hole in the board to avoid neck flexion (see module for diagram)
What are the key elements of an urgent ortho exam for a pt presenting to emerg with ortho injuries?
Remove from spine board
Log roll
Inspect and palpate spine
Secondary survey (all bones and joints)
What are the features to note when inspecting and palpating the spine of a trauma pt?
Deformity, swelling
Tenderness
Gap/step off
Crepitus
What are the basic 5 steps of fracture management?
- Inspect skin
- Detailed neurovascular exam
- Align/splint
- Xray
- Repeat detailed neurovascular exam
How is a painful splint or cast managed?
Must be removed
What is a key difference in splints and casts, especially with acute injuries?
Splints allow for swelling, casts (which fully encircle limb) don’t
What should you tell the pt to do after applying a splint or cast?
Elevate the limb to minimize swelling
How long does metaphyseal bone take to heal? List some examples
6 weeks
Wrist, ankle, proximal humerus
How long does cortical bone take to heal? List some examples
12 weeks
Humeral shaft, radial and ulnar shafts
Femur & tibia may take 16-24w
What are clinical criteria for fracture healing?
No tenderness on palpation or toggling
No pain on weight bearing
What are radiologic criteria for fracture healing?
Briding bone / callus across fracture
How long does it take bone to remodel?
1-2 years (compares bone formation after fracture to cement, vs remodelling to rebar)
Name 3 early local fracture complications (list of 5)
Neurovascular injury Infection Compartment syndrome Hardware failure Fracture (soft tissue) blister
Name 5 late local fracture complications (7 listed)
Malunion Nonunion Avascular necrosis Ostemyelitis Heterotopic ossification Post-traumatic arthritis Complex regional pain syndrome
Name 5 early systemic fracture complications (5 listed)
Sepsis DVT/PE Fat embolus ARDS Hemorrhagic shock
What medications and practices adversely affect bone healing and can lead to non-union of a fracture?
NSAIDs, bisphosphonates, and smoking
A non-union fracture is one that has not healed by …
6 months
How is malunion treated?
Corrective osteotomy, if clinically significant
What is the impact of malunion (of a fracture)
May lead to
- altered function
- arthritis of adjacent joints
How long can osteomyelitis be quiescent?
In some cases, decades
Extremely difficult to eradicate
What is osteomyelitis?
Bone infection:
Osteomyelitis is inflammation and destruction of bone caused by bacteria, mycobacteria, or fungi.
Common symptoms are localized bone pain and tenderness with constitutional symptoms (in acute osteomyelitis) or without constitutional symptoms (in chronic osteomyelitis)
What are the stages of long bone healing?
- Hematoma
- Subperiosteal and endosteal proliferation
- Callus
- Consolidation
- Remodelling
What is cancellous bone? What does it do? Name 3 examples of cancellous bones.
Bone with uniform spongy texture & no medullary canal
Forms RBC
Aka spongy bone, trabecular bone
Eg: pelvis, ribs, vertebrae, skull, and ends of long bones
What is different about cancellous bone healing? (May list stages as well)
Union forms between 2 surfaces (no callus)
- Hematoma formation
- Osteoblasts lay down matrix
- calcification, woven bone formation
How can fractures be stabilized?
Cast K-wires/percutaneous pins (e.g. pediatric elbow) External fixation Plates & screws / ORIF Intramedullary nail/rod (femur, tibia)
Name 3 indications for operative treatment of a fracture (4 listed)
Open fracture
> 2mm intra-articular displacement
Trauma
Inability to achieve or maintain an acceptable reduction
Why is trauma an indication for surgical treatment of fracture?
Stabilizes the injuries and makes nursing care and pt mobilization easier
Why delay weight bearing and aggressive activities in some fractures? (some that have had hardware)
All constructs will break eventually if the bone doesn’t heal (metal fatigue)
Gives bone healing a good “head start” before it is stressed
Pt presents with fracture to ED. What do you do first, splint or image?
Splint
What do you do after a reduction?
Re-image to assess adequacy
F/u in # clinic in 1w
What ankle fracture is stable?
Isolated undisplaced malleolar fracture
How is a stable ankle fracture managed?
Splint, then casting for 6w