Small Animal Orthopedics Flashcards
What are the principles of small animal fracture imaging
1) At least 2 orthogonal view
2) Joint above and below (for long bone fracture)
With fractures, how many orthogonal views do you need to have
at least 2
The fracture line is best seen when the x-ray beam is
parallel with the fracture
a radiographic image taken at a 90° angle to another image.
orthogonal
How might one fracture have multiple projected fracture lines
if the fracture is irregular it has multiple parts where the x-ray beam is parallel with the fracture
What might cause a lucent line that makes you think something is a fracture
1) Nutrient foramen
2) Physis
3) Superimposition
4) Sesamoids
5) Separate center of ossification
6) Chronic joint disease
What is a nutrient foramen
a channel that allows vessels to enter bone
wide smooth white line
-consistent locations, variable appearance
-present at all ages
-may be surrounded by sclerosis
lucent line during bone growth
consistent locations
disappear at varying ages
physis
What should you do if you are unsure you are looking at a physis
radiograph opposite limb
look at normal same-age patient
look at a reference textbook
a lucency seen at the edge of superimposed bones
can be confused with a fracture
superimposition
present around joints
typical locations but some are variably present
smooth/round or flatedges
can be confused with a fracture
sesamoid bones
appears in the ends of long bones after the primary ossification center has formed.
can be confused with a fracture
separate center of ossification
joint associated osseous bodies that create small mineral structures that can confused with fracture fragments
chronic joint disease
a type of broken bone where the bone is broken into more than two fragments, often into three or more
comminuted fracture
a fracture where there are at least 2 full separated fragments
complete
What is a greenstick fracture
a type of bone fracture where the bone cracks but doesn’t break completely into multiple pieces. It’s named for the way it looks, similar to how a young, green twig bends and cracks instead of snapping cleanly apart
How might greenstick fractures occur
young animals- they have bendy bones
sometimes one side bends and the other side breaks
an incomplete fracture that originates at the site of a complete fracture
fissure fracture
What might be challenging in repairing a complete fracture with an incomplete fissure fracture
the fissure may further break when attempting to fix the fracture
a simple transverse fracture
a fracture that is single perpendicular to the long axis of the bone
a simple fracture that is diagnonal at an angle less than 45 degrees
Short oblique
a simple fracture that is diagonal at an angle more than 45 degree
Long oblique
a simple fracture that twist around the cortex then cuts back to the starting point
spiral fracture
How do you describe the location of a fracture
-Long bones:
a) diaphysis: which portion
b) metaphysis/epiphysis: proximal or distal one
-Non-long bones (carpal bones, vertebrae)
a) Describe general anatomic location
b) Describe orientation in general terms
*Must meniton articular involvement
If juvenile with open physes, must mention physeal involvement (give salter-harris classification)