Orthopaedics Flashcards
What is a compound fracture?
When the skin is broken and the broken bone is exposed to the air.
What is a stable fracture?
Refers to when the sections of bone remain in alignment at the fracture.
What fractures are common in children?
Greenstick and buckle fractures typically occur in children rather than adults. Salter-Harris fractures only occur in children (adults do not have growth plates).
What is Colles’ Fracture?
A Colles’ fracture refers to a transverse fracture of the distal radius near the wrist, causing the distal portion to displace posteriorly (upwards), causing a “dinner fork deformity”. This is usually the result of a fall onto an outstretched hand (FOOSH).
What cancers commonly metastasise to bone?
Prostate
Renal
Thyroid
Breast
Lung
What is a FRAX tool?
It can be used to calculate a patient’s risk of a fragility fracture over the next 10 years.
What does T-score of more than -1 represent?
Normal Bone Mineral Density
What does a T-score of -1 to -2.5 represent?
Osteopenia
What does a T-score of less than -2.5 represent?
Osteoporosis
What does a T-score of less than -2.5 plus a fracture represent?
Severe Osteoporosis
Why might a Fat Embolism occur?
They can occur following the fracture of long bones (e.g., femur) as fat globules are released into the circulation following a fracture
What is the investigation of choice for osteomyelitis?
MRI (with a sensitivity of 90-100%)
What is McMurrays test used for?
A positive McMurrays points toward a meniscal tear
What is the most common pathogen causing discitis?
Staphylococcus Aureus
What is Discitis?
It is an infection of the intervertebral disc space
How do you diagnose Discitis?
Imaging: MRI has highest sensitivity
CT-guided biopsy may be required to guide antimicrobial treatment
How does a Scaphoid fracture present?
- Fall on outstretched hand
- Tenderness in the anatomical snuffbox dorsally
- Tenderness in the scaphoid tubercle volarly
What is cancellous bone?
Also known as spongy bone or trabecular bone, which is characterised by its spongy, porous, honeycomb-like structure and is typically found at the ends of long bones.
What criteria is used for diagnosis of fat embolism?
Gurd’s criteria
What are Gurd’s major criteria?
Respiratory distress
Petechial rash
Cerebral involvement
What are some of Gurd’s minor criteria?
Jaundice
Thrombocytopaenia
Fever
Tachycardia
Why does osteoarthritis occur?
Occurs in the synovial joints and results from genetic factors, overuse and injury. It is thought to result from an imbalance between cartilage damage and the chondrocyte response
What do chondrocytes do?
They proliferate and secrete extracellular matrix to maintain and sustain cartilage. They response to outside stimuli and tissue damage.
What X-Ray changes do you see with osteoarthritis?
L-oss of joint space
O-steophytes (bone spurs)
S-ubarticular sclerosis (increased density of the bone along the joint line)
S-ubchondral cysts (fluid-filled holes in the bone)
When is the pain of osteoarthritis worse?
Worsens with activity and at the end of the day
What are ganglion cysts?
Sacs of synovial fluid that originate from the tendon sheaths or joints
What is carpal tunnel syndrome?
Caused by compression of the medial nerves as it travels through the carpal tunnel in the wrist
What could be linked to bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome?
Acromegaly
What are the two special tests for carpal tunnel syndrome?
Phalen’s test
Tinel’s test
What is a contracture?
Shortening of the soft tissues that leads to restricted movement in a joint.
What are some causes of contractures?
Motor neuron disease
Radiculopathy
Muscular Dystrophies
What is the pathophysiology of Dupuytren’s contracture?
The palmar fascia of the hand forms a triangle of strong connective tissue on the palm.
In Dupuytren’s contracture, the fascia of the hands becomes thicker and tighter and develops nodules. Cords of dense connective tissue can extend into the fingers, pulling the fingers into flexion and restricting their ability to extend (contracture).
What is De Quervain’s tenosynovitis?
It is a condition where there is swelling and inflammation of the tendon sheaths in the wrist.
What tendons does De Quervain’s tenosynovitis usually affect?
Abductor pollicis longus (APL) tendon
Extensor pollicis brevis (EPB)
What is the most commonly involved organism in prosthetic joint infection?
Staphylococcus aureus
Weakness and loss of bulk in which muscle group occurs with carpal tunnel syndrome?
Thenar Muscles
What is tennis elbow otherwise known as?
Lateral epicondylitis
What artery is at high risk of compromise in NOF
Medial femoral circumflex artery
What is a Galeazzi Fracture?
A radial fracture with ulnar dislocation
What is a Monteggia fracture?
An ulnar fracture with radial dislocation
Causes of a positive Trendelenburg test
- Pain on weight bearing
- Weakness of hip ABductors
- Shortening of the femoral neck
- Dislocation/subluxation of the hip
A patient loses the ability to plantarflex and invert his foot is a stereotypical history for an injury to which nerve/structure?
Tibial nerve
What is the unhappy triad and when is it seen?
Unhappy triad is commonly seen following a lateral blow to the knee and consists of damage to the:
- Anterior cruciate ligament
- Medial collateral ligament
- Meniscus (classically the medial meniscus but recent evidence shows that the lateral meniscus is more commonly injured)
Foot drop is caused by an injury to which nerve?
Common Peroneal nerve