quiz-11/13/17 Flashcards
Distal Radius Fractures
One of the most common fractures in adults & usually from a fall on an outstretched hand (FOOSH)
Often associated with co-occurring injury
Radial fractures can cause shortening of the bone which can lead to ulnar abutment syndrome
Colles
Dorsal angulation
Smith
Volar angulation, less common than Colles
- falling with wrist in supination or flexion
Colles fractures- Fracture of the distal radius with DORSAL angulation
Surgical goal restore radial length and joint alignment to avoid ulnar abutment syndrome (compression of TFCC)
If fracture crosses the distal radial ulnar joint (DRUJ) or has involvement of the ulna then supination, pronation and radial/ulnar deviation will be affected
Closed reduction -
no incision made, the fracture is manipulated & realigned under X-ray fluoroscopy or just by feel and a cast is then usually applied.
Smith’s fracture
Volar angulation of distal fragment
Less common than Colles’
Smith’s and colles fracture can cause harm to what nerve?
Median Nerve
Non-articular fractures are easier to treat.
Can be treated non-operatively with immobilization.
Articular fractures involve the joint surface and usually require
external fixation to re-establish normal anatomical surfaces and alignment. If the joint surfaces are not preserved this will lead to pain, limitations in motion and arthritis from wear and tear.
Secondary complication- radius can shorten which causes ulnar abutment
If you have shortening- you get flattening of the incline because the radius is shorter
Positive for ulnar variance
the TFCC gets pinched- this creates ulnar sided wrist pain- supination makes it worse or if you add grip (shoves the ulna even farther in there)
- increases the load on the ulna
Ulnar Abutment Syndrome
-Ulnar sided wrist pain
Pain with supination (ulna migrates distally with supination. If a positive variance exists then more pressure on TFCC and carpals)
-Pain with weight beating and power grip secondary to change in load
-Normally a 22 degree incline between ulna and radius. Weight is distributed approximately 80% radius and 20% ulna.
Kienbock’s Disease
Avascular necrosis- death of the tissue because lack of blood flow
Surgical fixation methods for distal radius fractures
- Arthroscopic pinning
- Volar or dorsal plating and screws
- Cast applied two weeks the wrist control splint.
Percutaneous pinning
This can be added after reduction to provide additional stability
Pins for 6- 8 weeks
The superficial radial nerve is affected in up to 25%
External fixation used on:
Unstable Fractures
When the Fractures Extend Proximally up the Radius
Radiocarpal joint too smashed
Open and grossly contaminated fractures
The joint space has been compromised (not enough space or the articular surfaces don’t match up)
Open Reduction Internal Fixation
Volar plate fixation most common procedure but starting to see some dorsal.
Goal to restore close to normal anatomical position and joint surfaces.
Casted 2 weeks (performing tendon glides, AROM of digits, edema control) then thermoplastic wrist control splint is fabricated. Patient is instructed to remove splint to perform gentle ROM exercises 3 or 4 times a day.
Fracture Splint Following ORIF for distal radius fractures
Following a volar or dorsal plate procedure the wrist is immobilized 2 weeks then gentle AROM is allowed. A wrist control splint is fabricated and the patient can remove to perform exercises.
Management of carpal fractures
Carpal fractures are considerably less common than distal radius fractures.
Scaphoid fractures are the second most common wrist injury & most commonly fractured carpal bone.
Carpal fractures can be a diagnostic challenge
If the fracture is stable, immobilization by casting is the treatment of choice
Scaphoid
60-80% of carpal fractures involve this bone.
Forearm & thumb will have a thumb spica cast with IP free for 6 to 8 weeks.
Wrist immobilization with slight palmar flexion and radial deviation.
Splinting after cast removal is common.
Men are 10 times more likely to
fracture their scaphoid than women
This fracture is missed because:
- Feels like a sprain.
- Unlike the forearm, hand, and finger bones, fractures of the scaphoid rarely show any obvious deformity.
- Diagnosis delayed for weeks, months or even years
- The fracture may occasionally be invisible on the first x-ray, only to show up on an x-ray taken weeks or months later when bone re-absorption at the fracture site occurs
Scaphoid Fracture: Common Presentation is pain in snuffbox
Limited ROM due to pain (extension /RD)
Decreased grip strength
Painful grip and pinch
healing time for scaphoid fracture- Expected time to union for acute fractures is 6-24 weeks:
(1) Distal third = 6-8 weeks
(2) Middle third = 8-12 weeks
(3) Proximal third = 12-24 weeks
Scaphoid bloodflow
Proximal Pole fractures don’t heal well secondary to retrograde blood flow. These fractures must undergo ORIF of either screw or pinning and might require a bone graft.
Therapy for scaphoid fracture:
-A cast or splint is worn during fracture healing (6 to 8 weeks unless ORIF performed then they can move sooner)
-Encourage movement of digits & proximal joints, not
thumb
-Avoid heavy lifting, gripping, contact sports, & activities such as climbing ladders
-Initially in therapy the goal is to control the pain &
edema
Complications of scaphoid fractures:
- CTS
- Radial sensory n.
- Edema
- Pin infections
- Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)
- Ligament injures
After a wrist injury: To be independent in most ADLS an individual should have the following
40 wrist extension 40 wrist flexion 50 forearm pronation 50 forearm supination 40 degree arc of ulnar and radial deviation
Keep the patient’s focus on realistic goals for wrist injury
Keep the patient’s focus on realistic goals
-Goal is pain free functional range
The most important principle after distal radius fractures is to re-establish independent wrist extension .
Wrist extension required for functional grip strength (35 and 40 degrees).
Treatment while in cast for wrist fracture
AROM of elbow, shoulder, forearm, digits and thumb
Edema management: elevation, ice
Mirror Therapy (?)
Patient Education: Precautions and activity modification
Tendon glides
Therapy after casting or immobilization
Begin wrist AROM (supported on the table first and then against gravity)
Begin static progressive or dynamic splinting if stiff
Pain control: TENS, ice, E-stim for muscle re-ed
Functional activity / ADLs
Ultrasound for tightness or scar tissue
Pain Management for wrist fractures
Hot or Cold therapy
High volt electro-mesh glove
TENS
Modalities for wrist fractures
Heat and stretch
Cold
Fluidotherapy
Ultrasound or Iontophoresis
Joint Stiffness after wrist fracture
- Big problem after long term immobilization
- Joint mobilization (traction & dorsal/volar glide)
- Soft tissue mobilization
- PROM
- Heat and stretch
- Serial static splint
- Dynamic/static progressive splints
- Table top stretch/prayer stretch
Interventions for the stiff wrist
PROM Heat and stretch CPM Serial static splint Dynamic progressive splints Joint Mobilization Soft Tissue Mobilization
Considerations for wrist fractures:
As ROM exercises are initiated for wrist, be sure pt exercises while grasping an object. This allows pt to isolate wrist extensors from the Ex Digitorum Communis (EDC). (it thinks it can lift the wrist)
- marker or dowel to flex the EDC when extending and flexing the wrist
Fractures of the digits- closed and non-displaced
- Splint or cast
- Buddy tape
- Follow closely with x-ray
- Active motion permitted once pain and swelling resolve
Fractures of digits- closed displaced/angulated
- Manipulation/reduction of bone and external immobilization with cast or splint.
- Manipulation and percutaneous pinning
- Manipulation and application of an external fixator.
- Initiation of active motion will depend on stabilization technique and rate of fracture healing.
Fractures of the DigitsOpen, displaced, intra-articular, comminuted
-Open treatment involves exposure and direct manipulation of fracture
-K-wires
-Interosseous wires
-Plate a
Initiation of motion will depend on stability of fixation technique and rate of fracture healing.
radiographic evidence of healing.
- External fixation
- Intramedullary device
- Bone grafting
- Tension band technique
Fractures of digits- open, displaced
Initiation of motion will depend on stability of fixation technique and rate of fracture healing.
Rigid external fixation such as plate and screws allows for immediate AROM.
Semi-rigid Fixation- Begin motion based on resolution of pain, swelling and radiographic evidence of healing.
Metacarpal fracture
3-5 weeks
Proximal phalanx shaft fracture
5-7 weeks
Middle phalanx fracture
10-14 weeks
Distal phalanx fracture
3-4 weeks
Metacarpal fractures: 30-50% of hand fractures
- Fracture site more stable secondary to intrinsic muscles
- Most common fracture: Head or neck of the 5th metacarpal (boxer’s fracture).
- Metacarpal factures are characterized by excessive dorsal edema
-MP joint should be placed in 60 to 90 degrees of flexion
+++
- Fracture in dorsal angulation (interossei)
- Fourth and fifth digit can accept some angulation
- Second and third can not take beyond 15 degrees angulation.
What splint to use for metacarpal fracture- 5th metacarpal (boxer’s fracture)
Ulnar gutter
Proximal Phalanx fractures: (15-20%)
Common in thumb and index finger Proximal or mid-shaft area Spiral or oblique Proximal portion takes 3 to 5 weeks Mid-shaft takes: 7 to 8 weeks
Volar angulation of the fracture secondary to interossei attachment on the proximal piece and the central slip insertion on the distal portion.
Where is it bad for adhesions? Which fracture?
Proximal Phalanx Fractures
treat proximal phalanx
finger gutter splint and then you can use buddy tape
Middle phalanx fractures
Represent 8 to 12 % of hand fractures
Consolidation 10 to 14 weeks (takes the longest to heal)
Splinting as needed
Buddy strap
Distal phalanx fractures- 40-50%
- Crush injury
- Quick Healing (3 – 4 weeks)
- Very painful, hypersensitivity
- Nail matrix injury
- Tuft fracture is a comminuted fracture of the distal phalanx
- Soft tissue injuries such as Mallet and Jersey are avulsion fractures
Fractured thumb
- 4-6 weeks
- thumb spica splint
How to classify fractures?
Location in the bone * Angle of the fracture * Number of fragments Skin closed or open Stable or unstable Geometry: Transverse, oblique, spiral, comminuted, vertical Site: Base, shaft, neck, or head Deformity: Rotational, angular, or with shortening
Comminuted Fracture
involves shattering of bone into pieces; usually takes the longest to heal.
Compound/ Open Fx
bone pierces through skin
Incomplete Fractures
- Greenstick Fracture : characterized by a small crack and is most commonly found in children
- Hairline Fracture
Complete Fractures
Simple fracture: Transverse, oblique, spiral, impacted
Fractures can be angulated, displaced, distracted and pathological.
Growth plate fractures through the epiphyseal plate