Trauma Flashcards
Definition of compartment syndrome?
- Increased osteofascial compartment pressure to a level that decreases perfusion
- Due to decreased compartment size, or increased compartment content
Risk factors for compartment syndrome?
- Blunt trauma
- Crush injury/prolonged limb compression
- Haemorrhage into compartment
- Fracture
- Burns
Presentation of compartment syndrome?
Symptoms
- Severe pain out of proportion with clinical situation
Signs
- Pain with passive stretch
- Tense/woody compartment
- Late = paraesthesia, absent pulses
Complications of compartment syndrome?
Volkman’s ischaemic contracture
Amputation
Management in compartment syndrome?
CALL SENIOR
Investigations (clinical diagnosis)
- Bloods work up for surgery: FBC, UEs, LFTs, CRP, Clotting, G&S
- ECG
- Nil by mouth
General
- Release/remove cast and dressings down to level of skin
- Elevate limb to the level of the heart
- Give analgesia and reverse any hypotension/coagulopathy present
Surgical
- Refer to orthopaedics
- Will require surgical fasciotomy to relieve pressure
- May require skin graft to close fasciotomy
Where you need to palpate for Ottowa Ankle Rules?
What views do you need for X-ray?
- Posterior tip of lateral malleolus
- Posterior tip of medial malleolus
- Base of 5th metatarsal
- Navicular
- INABILITY TO WEIGHT BEAR IMMEDIATELY AND IN ED
AP, lateral and mortise view
Grading of ankle sprains? Where and how do they most occur?
85% are lateral ankle sprains, due to inversion of plantar flexed foot
- Grade 1 – ligament stretched with microscopic tear, patient can weight bear partially
- Grade 2 – partial tearing, mod-severe swelling. Difficulty weight bearing
- Grade 3 – ruptured ligament, swelling immediate and severe, cannot weight bear. Instability of joint present.
Management of ankle sprain?
POLICE
- Protect
- Optimal loading (rest but use muscles to prevent loss of strength)
- Ice (10-30 mins)
- Compression (bandage)
- Elevation
Simple analgesia, gentle exercise as soon as pain allows.
Severe sprains with rupture (grade 3) may require surgical repair. They should be immobilised for a short period to increase recovery time (below knee cast/brace)
What is this?
Colle’s Fracture
Fracture of distal radius with dorsal displacement of fragments
What is this?
Smith’s fracture
Distal radius fracture with volar (anterior) displacement of fracture fragments
History of Colle’s fracture?
- Fall on outstretch hand (FOOSH)
- Pain, swelling, bruising, deformity, loss of function, instability
- Check mechanism of injury – if mild force then consider osteoporosis
Dinner fork deformity - with deviation backwards and laterally
Complications of Colle’s fracture?
- Median/ulnar nerve damage with acute carpal tunnel syndrome
- Compartment syndrome
- Deformity leading to loss of mobility and function
- Chronic pain, mal/non-union, arthritis, complex regional pain syndrome
Definitions of…
- Simple
- Compound
- Comminuted
- Greenstick
- Simple: Fracture that is not displaced, no break in skin
- Compound: Fracture with overlaying break in the skin, even if bone not protruding
- Comminuted: Fracture with 3+ fragments of bone
- Greenstick: In young person, bone bends and then breaks
Management of Colle’s fracture?
- Reduction of fracture with appropriate analgesia
- Move forwards and medially
- Apply back slab and repeat X ray to assess reduction, repeat if unsatisfactory
- Healing = 6 weeks, give appropriate analgesia
Surgical reduction if intra-articular fracture
Risk factors for # femur?
High impact injury (RTA)
Elderly, female
Osteoporosis
Pathological (metastatic disease)
Presentation of # femur?
Symptoms
- Severe pain with supporting hx of injury
- Tense, swollen tender thigh
- Inability to weight bear
Signs
- Deformity and shortening on affected side
- Assess neurovascular status of limb
- Open wound (trauma cases)
Complications of # femur?
Early
- Major blood loss (1500ml), especially if not obvious in closed fracture
- Acute compartment syndrome
- High risk of infection in open fracture
Late
- Fat embolism (more common in closed, 24-72 hours after injury with SOB, petechial rash, high temp, drowsiness and oliguria)
- DVT, PE, infection, malalignment, non-union
Investigations in # femur?
General
- Monitor observations to check for blood loss/other complications
Bloods
- FBC, UEs, LFTs, CRP, Clotting, G&S/X-match
Imaging
- X Ray of affected limb – AP, lateral, Oblique
- Also ipsilateral knee and hip to rule out co-existing NoF fracture
- Consider CT in mid-shaft fractures
Management of severe # femur?
- Resuscitation - ATLS - PRC/fluid replacement
-
Reduction - restore the anatomy, relieve pressure on surrounding nerves, vessels, muscle
- Thomas’ splint to immobilise
- Stabilisation - hold the reduced fracture
- Rehabilitation - restore function
Surgical
- Intramedullary nail – rod into bone marrow of femur and fixed with nails
- Early mobilisation and treatment to reduce risk of complications – physiotherapy involvement and mobilisation recommended day after surgery
What this ting?
Thomas’ splint
Risk factors for tibula/fibula fracture?
- Direct blow or falls onto tibial shaft
- High energy injury
- Violent twisting injury (contact sports)
- Motorcycle accidents
Usually presents as tib/fib fracture - isolated tibial fracture rare.
Complications of tib/fib fracture?
- Neurovascular compromise (especially popliteal artery injury)
- Compartment syndrome
- Peroneal nerve injury (in fibular neck fracture), infection
- Non-union
What is this?
Maisonneuve fracture
- Spiral fracture of upper fibula, with ankle tibia fracture
- Requires internal fixation
Management of tib/fib fracture?
Un-displaced
- Analgesia and immobilisation in long leg back slab
- Spiral and oblique fractures = unstable
- Refer to orthopaedic team
Displaced
- Analgesia, immobilise in back slab, refer orthopaedics
- May require manipulation under anaesthesia or IM nail
- Urgent orthopaedic referral if ?vascular injury, sensory deficit or gross swelling
Compound
- Irrigate wound with saline, cover with sterile dressing
- IV antibiotics, tetanus
- Refer orthopaedics for urgent cleaning, debridement and fixation with IM nail or external fixation