Principles of fracture management 2 Flashcards
Name some different types of screws
Cortical/Cancellous
Partially/fully threaded
Self tapping/ non self tapping
Locking / not locking
What is the size of the screw mean?
Size of screw = thread diameter
What is the thread of a screw?
a helical structure used to convert between rotational and linear movement or force
Name the 3 different types of screws on this image
Left - locking
Middle - cortical
Right - cancellous
What is a self tapping screw?
A self-tapping screw is a screw that can tap its own hole as it is driven into the material.
What properties does a self tapping screw have?
Thread on screw
Cutting flutes at the end of the screw
Cuts thread into bone as screwed in
What properties does a non self tapping screw have?
No cutting flutes
Use a tap to cut the thread before placing the screw
Thread of profile of tap = thread profile of screw
What type of screw is this -
Self tapping or non self tapping?
Self tapping
It has cutting flutes
What type of screw is this - self tapping or non-self tapping?
Non self tapping
Blunt end
Are self tapping or non self tapping screws faster to place?
Self tapping - faster to place as do not need to tap before hand to place it
Why should you take care when placing self tapping screws?
Care with placement, can fracture bone
If replacing screw, dont make a second thread
Name 3 BONE screws
Lag screw
Positional screw
Name some PLATE screws
Non locking: for axial compression or neutral (no compression)
Locking
What does a POSITIONAL screw do and how is it placed?
Both cortices of the bone are drilled and tapped
Screw holds 2 pieces of bone together i.e. in position
What screw is shown here?
Positional screw
both cortices of the bone are drilled and tapped
screw holds 2 pieces of bone together
What are the order of events for placing a 3.5mm positional screw?
Placing 3.5mm positional screw
- Drill a 2.5mm hole in the cis and trans cortices (using a 2.5mm drill guide)
- Measure the depth of the hole using a depth gauge; add 2mm
- Use a 3.5mm tap in a 3.5mm guide, tap both cortices Not necessary if screw is self-tapping
- Place a 3.5mm screw of the appropriate length
- Screw should be tight but do not over-tighten otherwise strips
Counter-sinking is not necessary for a positional screw.
This applies to a positional screw in a bone, or in a plate.
What are lag screws - how are they placed and what do they do?
The near cortex if ‘over’ drilled to the same diameter as thread
The far cortex is prepared normally - drill to shaft diameter, tap to thread diameter
Screw compresses/squeezes 2 pieces of bone together
What is this screw, how does it work?
Lag screw
Near cortex is over drilled to same diameter as thead
Far cortex is perpared normally
Screw compresses/sqeezes 2 pieces of bone together
When should you use a lag screw?
For oblique fracture only
(oblique fracture = more than 3odegrees to long axis. Apply lag screw perpendicular to the fracture, so the squeezing action is to squeeze the fracture rather than to shear the fracture)
How should a lag screw be placed and in what type of fracture?
Oblique fractures only
Fracture should be help reduced with bone holding forceps
leg screw at 90degree to fracture line - to compress, otherwise it will shear (which we do not want)
It should lead to primary bone union - lag screws are a way of achieving NO gap and absolute stability in oblique fracture
What are the steps involved with placing a 3.5mm lag screw?
How to place 3.5mm lag screw
- Drill a 3.5mm glide hole in the cis cortex (drill guide)
- Place a 2.5/3.5mm insert sleeve into the glide hole
- Drill a 2.5mm hole in the trans cortex
- Remove the insert sleeve
- Countersink the hole (not if placed through a bone plate)
- Measure the depth of the hole using a depth gauge; add 2mm
- Using a 3.5mm tap in a 3.5mm guide, tap the trans cortex
- Choose a 3.5mm screw of the appropriate length
- Place it in the prepared hole and screw it in until tight.
- Do not over-tighten the screw
What happens if you tighten a lag screw too tight?
If tightened too tight - bone fractures or strip the thread in the far cortex, the bone mini fractures around the screw and then do not have intact break
What are the functions of fully threaded bone screws?
Positional screw
Lag screw
Depends on how the ci cortex is prepared - over drill or tap.
What are partially threaded screws used for?
There are no near threads - functions exclusively as a LAG screw
What is a non locking plate screw?
Screw is placed in the bone through the place
The head of the screw engages the plate
What is this screw here?
Non locking plate screw
screw is palced in the bone through the plate
the head of the scew engages the plate
Have you had a break recently?
probs not
so got get a tea or lucozade (tred) or a hot choc (anna)
What is a lag screw?
A lag screw is used to compress fracture fragments
How can a plate screw be used as a lag screw?
Fracture should be reduced
Lag screw should be placed at 90 degrees to the fracture line
- fracture should be reduced
- plate is applied
- lag screw should be placed at 90 degrees to the fracture line
What are some mechanical functions of a plate?
Compression
Neutralisation
Bridging
Locking - neutralisation and bridging
What does the size of the plate mean?
Size of plate = the size of screws the plate works with
How does a non locking plate work?
Screw is placed in the bone through the plate
The head of the screw engages the plate
Screw pulls/tightens plate down onto the bone
friction between plate and bone maintains stability
What 2 things do you need to happen when using a non locking plate?
Means 2 things - for contact to happen, screws need to be TIGHT and also need CONTACT between plate and bone - cannot generate friction or equal and opposite forced without these 2 things.
What is non locking plate contouring?
Plate - bone friction depends on CONTACT between plate and bone
Plate needs to be contoured
Use bending irons or press
- can contour the plate to the anatomical shape of the bone that you are applying the shape to
What are the 3 mechanical functions of plates
- Compression plate
- Neutralisation plate
- Bridging plate
How does a COMPRESSION plate work?
Compression plate - dynamic
Apply AXIAL compression to TRANSVERSE fracture
Aim for primary bone union - contact healing
Achieved using a DYNAMIC COMPRESSION PLATE
What is the most popular plate used?
Compression plate
What is the difference between these 2 colours of drill guide and what plate are they used with?
- Green and gold drill guide
- Green - gives central drill hole
- Gold - off centre drill hole - allows eccentric, off centre hole or screw in the plate, so as you tighten, the head of the screw will be forced to move down the metal work of the plate in the direction of the fracture and will compress the fracture
Used with a compression plate
What kind of plate can you only apply to a transverse fracture?
Can only apply compression plate to transverse fracture
How do you use a dynamic compression plate i.e. how does it work?
Dynamic Compression Plate
Oval holes
- Screw other side of fracture fixed
- screw inserted eccentrically (away from centre)
- using GOLD drill guide
- guide has ARROW showing direction / amount
- as tightened, head shifted down towards centre
- pulls bone with it -towards fracture
- thereby compresses the fracture site