Ortho Flashcards
Ankle Xray Views & Metrics
Nomenclature of hip #’s
Distal phalanx #
- repair nailbed injury if present
- hairpin splint not involving PIP
- plastics within 2 weeks
Middle/Proximal Phalanx #
- correct any rotational deformity
- buddy tape (dynamic splint) if stable (transverse, non-displaced)
- radial or ulnar gutter splint if unstable
- plastics within 1 week
Bennett’s #
- intraarticular base of thumb MC # with dislocation/subluxation of CMC
- reduce, thumb spica
- plastics within 2-3 days
Rolando’s #
- comminuted # of base of thumb MC
- worse prognosis than Bennett’s
- thumb spica
- plastics within 2-3 days
DIP Dislocation
- reduce
- dorsal splint in full extension
- or buddy tape if stable post-reduction
- plastics within 1 week
PIP Dislocation
- reduce
- dorsal splint in 30 deg flexion at PIP
- or buddy tape if stable post-reduction
- plastics within 1 week (2-3 d if unstable)
Extensor zones of the hand
see Evernote “Hand Injuries”
Management of extensor tendon injuries of the hand
- Zone I, II open injuries: repair 5-0 sutures, splint in extension.
- Zone III injuries: modified Elson’s test to check for central slip damage. If open & have Boutonniere deformity, call plastics on call. If closed, place PIP in extension and f/u plastics (may leave DIP free).
- Zone IV injuries: primary repair with 5-0 sutures, splint MCP in 15 deg flexion.
- Zone V, VI injuries: primary repair with 4-0 sutures if clean laceration, splint.
- Zone VII, VIII injuries: splint, refer to plastics.
Management of Flexor Tendon Injuries of the Hand
- Splint in position of function
- Plastics within 1 week
Fingertip Amputation Zones
See Hand Injuries on Evernote
Describing Angulation in a #
- for midshaft #’s, angulation is direction of apex
- for distal fractures (e.g. Colles), angulation is direction of distal fragment
MCP Dislocation
- do not hyperextend during reduction
- reduce with wrist flexed to relax flexor tendon
- pressure and traction on base of prox phalanx
- splint in flexion
- volar dislocations usually need operative reduction
Scapholunate Ligament Injury
- FOOSH on thenar eminence
- clicking with wrist movement
- tender on dorsum of wrist just distal to Lister’s tubercle
- pain with ballottement of the scaphoid
-
scaphoid shift/Watson shift test
- wrist in ulnar deviation, thumb on scapohid prominence volarly –> move wrist into ulnar deviation
- test positive if scaphoid ‘clunks’ dorsally/gives or patient’s pain reproduced
- XRay
- 3 mm widening on PA view
- clenched fist view may help
- scaphoid shortening with dense ring (cortical ring sign)
- dorsal intercalated segment instability of lateral view (zig-zag pattern instead of 3 C’s)
- Tx: radial gutter splint
Triquetrolunate Ligament Injury
- ulnar equivalent to scapholunate injury
- FOOSH on hypothenar eminence
- volar intercalated segment instability on lateral xray
- ulnar gutter splint
Perilunate Dislocation
- FOOSH with great force
- posterior dislocation of carpal bones, lunate remains in place
- call ortho/plastics
Lunate Dislocation
- posterior dislocation of carpal bones with lunate facing anteriorly
- XRay
- piece of pie sign (lunate triangular on PA)
- spilled teacup sign (lunate displaced and angled palmar)
- if fracture associated, then add trans- to the name (e.g. transscaphoid lunate disclocation)
- call ortho/plastics
Scaphoid Fracture
- tender in snuffbox with ulnar deviation
- pain with resisted pronation/supination
- pain with axial load to thumb
- 10% initial xrays -ve
- may get dedicated scaphoid view
- thumb spica with mild wrist dorsiflexion and radial deviation (to compress # fragments)
Triquetrum Fracture
- often a dorsal avulsion # on lateral view
- sugartong splint
Lunate Fracture
- tender in dorsum wrist groove on flexion
- AVN possible (blood supply enters distally)
- xrays may be negatve
- thumb spica
Hamate Fracture
- interrupted bat/golf club swing
- carpal tunnel view
Colles’ Fracture
- reduction: > 20 deg angulation, intra-articular involvement, > 1 cm shortening, comminution
- criteria for adequate reduction
- At least 11 mm radial height
- At least 22 deg radial inclination
- At least 11 deg volar angulation
- practically, neutral is OK for age < 50 and 10 deg dorsal tilt is OK for age > 50
- Acceptable angulation in kids
- < 5 yrs = 30 deg
- 5-10 yrs = 20 deg
- 10-12 yrs = 10-15 deg
- +-2 mm ulnar variance
- < 3 mm impaction
- ulnar styloid often also fractured
Smith’s Fracture
- volar angulation of distal radius
Radial Styloid Fracture
- often with dislocation of the lunate
- major carpal ligaments insert at styloid so carpal instability
- short arm splint
Ulnar Styloid Fracture
- ulnar gutter splint
DRUJ Injuries
- ulnar deviation on lateral
- splint in supination for dorsal and pronation for volar dislocations
Compartment Syndrome
(Diagnosis, treatment)
- traditional, tissue pressure > 30-50 mm Hg
- better, delta pressure (diastolic - tissue pressure) > 30 mm Hg
- pain refractory to opioids, pain to passive stretch, firmness/fullness in compartment
- normal pulses/cap refill as tissue pressure less than arterial pressure
- Stryker kit
- pressures highest near injured area, obtain within 5 cm of # site
- 2 readings each compartment
- place limb at level of heart
- reverse anticoag/replace factors for hemophiliacs
Biceps Tendon Ruptures
-
proximal
- usually older, chronic tendonitis
- pain in anterior shoulder
- shoulder xray r/o avulsion #
- sling –> # clinic
-
distal
- usually younger, eccentric load
- pain in AC fossa
- Hook sign
- sling –> # clinic more urgently
Elbow Dislocation
- 90% are posterolateral
- assess (pre- and post-reduction):
- brachial artery (just medial to distal biceps tendon)
- ulnar, radial, median nerves
- Check for full ROM post-reduction, fragments often trapped
- call ortho if unstable on ROM or reduced ROM or NV compromise post-reduction
- splint in long-arm posterior splint in slightly less than 90 deg flexion and forearm in mild pronation
- NV f/u exam next-day
Supracondylar #
- common in 5-10 years of age
- common to injure anterior interosseous nerve
- motor only branch of median
- test OK sign
- common to injure anterior interosseous nerve
- extension-type (95%, posterior displacement)
- FOOSH in extension
- posterior fat pad or large anterior fat pad (sail sign), disruption of anterior humeral line
- long-arm posterior splint 90 deg, neutral rotation
- if only sign is fat pad then ortho f/u in 2-7 days
- if any angulation/break through cortex then fasting + ortho in ED
- flexion-type (5%, anterior displacement)
- rare, direct force, often open
Intercondylar #
- assume any supracondylar # in adult is intercondylar
- supracondylar + T or Y component separating condyles from each other and going intraarticular
- splint in long arm posterior splint at 90 deg in neutral position