Orthopaedic Emergencies Flashcards
What is a fracture?
A break in the continuity of the bone, can be closed or open.
What is a displaced fracture?
Produces actual deformity or distortion of the limb
What is a nondisplaced fracture?
A simple crack of the bone
What is a comminuted fracture?
The bone is broken into more than two fragments
What is an epiphyseal fracture?
Fracture in growth section of a child’s bone
What is a greenstick fracture?
An incomplete fracture that passes only partway through the shaft of a bone
What is an incomplete fracture?
A fracture that does not run completely through the bone
What is an oblique fracture?
Bone is broken at an angle across the bone
What is a pathologic fracture?
Fracture of weakened or diseased bone
What is a spiral fracture?
A fracture caused by a twisting force, causing an oblique fracture around and through the bone
What is a transverse fracture?
Occurs straight across the bone
What signs should you suspect from a fracture?
Deformity, tenderness, guarding, swelling, busing, crepitus, false motion, exposed fragments, pain, locked joint
What is a dislocation?
A distruption of a joint in which the bone ends are no longer in contact
State signs and symptoms of a dislocation
Marked deformity, swelling, pain that is aggravated by any attempt at movement, tenderness on palpation, loss of normal joint motion, numbness or impaired circulation
What is a sprain?
occur when a joint is twisted or stretched beyond its normal range of motion
Signs of a sprain?
Guarding, swelling and eccymosis, pain, instability of a joint
What is a strain
stretching or tearing of the muscle
What does a strain cause to the site of injury?
pain, swelling, bruising of soft tissue of area, minor swelling, no deformity usually
How do you prevent contamination following an open fracture?
brush away any debris on the skin and do not enter or probe the fracture site
What injuries should be splinted?
all fractures, dislocations, and sprains
What are two situations in which a limb must be splinted in a position of deformity?
when the deformity is severe and when extreme resistance or extreme pain is noted when applying gentle traction
What joint is frequently separated during sports?
Acromioclavicular joint
