ortho Flashcards
MC location and mechanism of compartment syndrome
i. Can occur in any extremity
1. Lower leg most common.
any kind of fracture but most frequently you see it with a crush injury
other than crush injuries, what are common etiologies of compartment syndrome
- Crush injury
- Fracture
- External compression i.e. casts that are too tight, splints, dressings.
- Bleeding/hematoma
- Burns
- Positional – overdose found down.
what do we look for with compartment syndrome? what is the BEST indicator
1 –>PAIN TO PASSIVE STRETCH
b. Paresthesias (numbness or tingling in the extremity)
c. Pain
d. Peripheral pulses absent (very late finding)
e. Paralysis (late finding)
why is an absent peripheral pulse such a late finding
compartment pressures are usually not higher than blood pressure
gold standard for dx compartment syndrome
Gold standard Diagnostic: Compartment Pressure Measurement
DIAGNOSIS = If pressures within 30mmHg of diastolic BP it is positive for compartment syndrome.
what is the pathophys of compartment syndrome exactly
muscle encapsulated in fascia and the fasica can’t expand very much
too much swelling causes pressure push inward causing increased pressure on A/V/N and damage
what is the first step in the management of compartment syndrome
- Operate immediately
a. Call attending get scheduled for OR now
fasciotomy
how can you determine the pressure with comaprtment syndrome
- Diastolic BP 88, Intracompartment pressure 68.
a. 88 – 68 = 20mm Hg Compartment syndrome.
b. Emergency Fasciotomy of all 4 compartments
c. Take intraoperative pressures to confirm release.
initial management of open fracture (up to splinting)
- ER washout, remove any visible foreign material, and cover.
- Check and apply pressure if active bleeding.
- Check neurovascular distal to the fracture. If compromised reduce and recheck.
- Splint and then prep for OR
what else do you need to do with a open fracture
WHAT DO YOU NEED TO ASK
- Apply external traction if needed.
- Start antibiotics (tobramycin, ancef) per facility protocol. We use IV Tobramycin and Ancef.
- Give Tetanus if needed.
- Make pt. NEED TO ASK–> NPO, ask last meal.
- Call your attending.
- Don’t forget the XR
Radial Nerve does what (3)
Extend elbow
supinate
and extend wrist and fingers.(wrist drop)
ulnar nerve is responsible for (2)
Flexion of 4th &5th fingers,
and adductors. (Claw hand)
medial nerve is responsible for (3)
Pronation
flexes &
abducts 1st, 2nd, 3rd fingers. (Carpal Tunnel)
Femoral Nerve
Extends knee, some hip flexion.
Hip extension is governed by what nerve
Superior Gluteal Nerve-
Sciatic/Tibial N
Flexes knee, foot, & toes. (Must find during THA)
Deep Peroneal N
Plantar flexion. (Foot Drop)
eversion of foot.
v. Superficial Peroneal N-
how do you check for vascular compramise un UE, LE
- Check skin, pulses, and capillary refill.
- Upper Ext- Radial and brachial if needed.
- Lower Ext.- Dorsalis Pedis and posterior tibial. Use Doppler if needed.
what do you need with a posterior knee dislocation
- Get CT angio of knee if posterior knee dislocation** (to look for posterior tibial artery – complications from that being torn)
management of dislocations
i. Get them reduced then no longer an emergency.
1. Always get XR before reduction
if you have a fracture of the coronoid you need to know if it is from the reduction or occured before
(hill sach’s, fx the humoral head)
where do most septic joints occur
i. Septic joint can happen in any joint. Most common in knee >50% of cases.
RF for septic joints
Risk factors include elderly immune compromised RA hx of joint replacement IV Drug users.
complications of septic joint
iii. Can Cause significant cartilage damage within 8hrs, can lead to sepsis and death.
iv. Most common cause Staph Aureus.
common pathogens with septic joint
iv. Most common cause Staph Aureus.
v. Don’t forget Neisseria Gonorrhea! (in young adults, anyone who is sexually active)
exam findings with septic joint
- Pain in absence of trauma
- Red, Hot, Swollen Joint.
- Fevers, malaise, may appear toxic.
- Inability to bear weight or tolerate passive ROM.
can’t passively move the joint–> a lot of pain
work up for septic joint (what is the study of choice and 3 others)
- WBC often elevated
- ESR
- CRP
- Joint aspiration is study of choice.
why is CRP is helpful
Most helpful as it will rise within hours of infection. (rise the fastest and falls the fastest in response to inflammation)
WBC indicative of septic joint
• WBC >50K, gram +, absence of crystals, +Cult confirms.
If low white count and a bunch of crystals think
- If low white count and a bunch of crystals think about gout
Tx for septic joint
Empiric treatment based on risk factors. Remember staph Aureus is #1 cause but think Gonorrhea in young people.
MRSA in IVDU
Pseudomonas in immune compromised (HIV, elderly, etc.).
Needs to go to surgery ASAP!!
what is a huge complicating factor for septic joint management
a. Operative irrigation and drainage.
b. In presence of hardware be prepared to do revision surgery or staged procedure if necessary.
Hardware = magnet for bacteria
cauda equina is caused by (MC) and 4 others
i. Caused by compression to nerve roots at the lumbosacral region.
Disc herniation (most common)
but also trauma/fx tumor epidural abscess or hematoma.
sxs of cauda equina
Saddle numbness, bowel and bladder incontinence, impotence, bilateral leg pain, lower extremity weakness.
exam to rule out cauda equina
- Muscle atrophy
- Lower ext. weakness
- Absence of pin prick sensation at perianal region.
- Lack of rectal tone or voluntary contracture.
- Lack of anal wink ;)
study of choice for nerve compression
• MRI is study of choice, to look for nerve compression.
tx of cauda equina (best if done within ___)
Emergent surgery to decompress nerve roots. Discectomy or laminectomy.
Best prognosis if done within 48hrs of onset.
RF for neck fasc
- Immune compromised- Diabetes, AIDS, cancer.
- IV Drug users or skin poppers.
- Trauma to skin.
- Obesity
mortality rate with nec fasc
- Mortality rate 32%!
exam findings in nec fasc
- Cellulitis progressing rapidly. (“started last night and now it feels like my leg is on fire”) really quickly will see within hours (day or two max)
- Severe pain out of proportion to exam.
- Absence of trauma.
- Skin erythema, ischemia, bullae, induration (late findings)
- Subcutaneous air on XR (CLASSIC FINDING)
treatment of nec fasc
- Emergent surgery to radically excise area of necrosis
- Treat with broad based IV Antibiotics
- Will need multiple trips to OR for debridement and eventual closure.
- May result in amputation.
ortho HPI
Date of injury
mechanism
complaint
last meal. (have to NPO for at least 8 hours)
PMH ortho
Important to note heart dz
DM and how well controlled
immune suppressant illness.
PSH ortho
Any prior ortho surgeries in area of current issue
Especially important if a revision case.