Orthopaedics Flashcards
What is a compound fracture?
Skin is broken and the broken bone is exposed to the air
What is a Colle’s fracture?
Transverse fracture of the distal radius
Distal portion displaces posteriorly (upwards)
‘dinner fork deformity’
Fall onto an outstretched hand FOOSH
What bones have vulnerable blood supplies?
Scaphoid
Femoral head
Humeral head
Talus, navicular and fifth metatarsal in the foot
What is the Weber classification?
For fractures of the lateral malleolus, described in relation to the distal syndesmosis (fibrous join between the tibia and fibular), which is essential for stability and function of the ankle joint
Type A - below the ankle joint - syndesmosis intact
Type B - at the level of the ankle joint - syndesmosis intact or partially torn
Type C - above the ankle joint - syndesmosis is disrupted
What cancers metastasise to bone?
Prostate
Renal
Thyroid
Breast
Lung
What are the key side effects of bisphosphonates?
Reflux and oesophageal erosions
Atypical fractures
Osteonecrosis of the jaw
Osteonecrosis of the external auditory canal
How do you prevent the side effects of bisphosphonates?
Taken on an empty stomach sitting upright for 30 mins before moving or eating to prevent this
What is an alternative to bisphosphonates when they can’t be used?
Denosumab
What is a fat embolism?
Fat globules released into the circulation following a fracture, often of the long bones
This can cause a systemic inflammatory response
Presents 24-72 hrs after
Use Gurd’s criteria for diagnosis
What is Gurd’s major criteria for fat embolism syndrome
Respiratory distress
Petechial rash
Cerebral involvement
What are the two types of hip fractures?
Intra-capsular
Extra-capsular
What are the two arteries that supply the femoral head?
Medial and lateral circumflex femoral arteries
Join the femoral neck just proximal to the intertrochanteric line
How do you know whether a fracture is intra-capsular or extra-capsular?
Break in the femoral neck, within the capsule
Area proximal to the intertrochanteric line
What is the Garden classification for intra-capsular neck of femur fractures?
Grade I - incomplete fracture and non-displaced
Grade II - complete fracture and non-displaced
Grade III - partial displacement (trabecular are at an angle
Grade IV - full displacement (trabeculae are parallel)
Grade III and IV have disrupted blood supply
How do you decide between a hemiarthroplasty or a total hip replacement in avascular necrosis of the femoral head?
Hemiarthroplasty - for those with limited mobility or significant co-morbidities
Total hip replacement - patients who can walk independently
Which type of hip fracture can disrupt the blood supply to the femur?
Intra-capsular
How are non-displaced intra-capsular #NOF treated?
Internal fixation with screws
How are intertrochanteric fractures treated?
Dynamic hip screw through the neck into the head of the femur
Plate with barrel that holds the screw is screwed to the outside of the femoral shaft
How are subtrochanteric fractures treated?
Intramedullary nail - through the greater trochanter into the central cavity of the shaft of the femur
How do hip fractures present?
History of older patient with a fall
Pain in the groin or hip, which may radiate to the knee
Not able to weight bear
Shortened, abducted and externally rotated leg
What is Shenton’s line?
Seen on AP x-ray
One continuous curving line formed by the medial border of the femoral neck and continues to the inferior border of the superior pubic ramus.
Disruption = #NOF
What can cause compartment syndrome?
Bone fractures
Crush injuries
What are the 5 Ps of acute compartment syndrome?
Pain - disproportionate, worsened by passive stretching
Paraesthesia
Pale
Pressure - high
Paralysis (a late and worrying feature)
What can be used to measure compartment pressure?
Needle manometry
What is the management for acute compartment syndrome?
Escalation
Remove external dressings or bandages
Elevating the leg to heart level
Maintaining good BP
Emergency fasciotomy
What are the features of chronic compartment syndrome?
Associated with exertion, improves with rest
Pain, numbness and paraesthesia
What are the three types of canal stenosis?
Central stenosis - central spinal canal
Lateral stenosis - nerve root canals
Foramina stenosis - intervertebral foramina
What can cause the spinal canal to narrow?
Congenital
Degenerative changes in the facet joints, discs and bone spurs
Herniated discs
Thickening of the ligaments lava or posterior longitudinal ligament
Spinal fractures
Spondylolisthesis (anterior displacement of a vertebra out of line with the one below)
Tumours
How does lumbar central stenosis present?
Intermittent neurogenic claudication on standing or walking, worse standing straight
Lower back pain
Buttock and leg pain
Leg weakness
What type of spinal stenosis causes sciatica?
Lateral stenosis and foramina stenosis
How do you differentiate between spinal stenosis and PAD?
In PAD, the peripheral pulses or the ankle-brachial pressure index are abnormal
What is the management for spinal stenosis?
Exercise and weight loss
Analgesia
Physiotherapy
Decompression surgery if above fail (this has variable results)
What is a laminectomy?
Removal of part or all of the lamina from the affected vertebra.
What is a meniscal tear?
Knee injury involving the cartilage in the knee joint
What are the menisci of the knee?
Medial and lateral meniscus in between the femur and the tibia.
Shock absorber
Distribute weight
Stabilise joint
How do meniscal tears often occur?
Twisting movements in the knee
What is the presentation of meniscal tear?
Pop sound or sensation
Pain
Swelling
Stiffness
Restricted range of motion
Locking of the knee
Instability of the knee ‘giving way’
Localised tenderness on the joint line
Swelling
Restricted range of motion
What is McMurray’s test?
Lying supine, knee is flexed
Internal rotation of the tibia and outward pressure to the inside of the knee, extend the knee - pain or restriction = lateral meniscal damage
Vice versa for medial
Not used due to risk of worsening tear
What is Apley Grind Test?
Patient prone with knee flexed to 90 degrees
Downward pressure applied through the leg into knee, tibia is internally and externally rotated at the same time. Pain suggests meniscal damage.
Not used due to risk of worsening tear
What are the Ottawa knee rules?
X ray of acute knee injury if any of the following:
Age 55 or above
Patella tenderness with no tenderness elsewhere
Fibular head tenderness
Cannot flex knee to 90 degrees
Cannot weight bear
What is the gold standard investigation for meniscal tears?
Arthroscopy