Trauma Flashcards
Is a muzzle velocity of 2000 ft/second considered low or high velocity?
Low velocity.
High velocity is greater than 3000 ft/second
Advantages of ORIF clavicle fracture
Midshaft displaced
Advantages:
Improved results with ORIF for clavicle fractures with >2cm shortening and 100% displacement
Improved DASH and Constant scores with operative management at all time points
Improved functional outcome/less pain with overhead activity
Faster time to union
Decreased symptomatic malunion rate
Improved cosmetic satisfaction
Improved overall shoulder satisfaction
Increased shoulder strength and endurance
Decreased overall complications (JBJS2012 - McKee)
Disadvantages
Increased risk of need for future procedures
Removal of hardware COMMON (30%)
Debridement for infection
How do you splint/cast medial or lateral epicondyle elbow fractures?
Medial in pronation, Lateral in supination
**** Thumb towards the injury.
What is the classic malunion of a sub-troch fracture?
Varus-procurvatum
Primary stabilizers of elbow? (3)
Anterior bundle of MCL
LCL
Ulnohumeral articulation
Risks for wound complications following calc fracture after ORIF?
Open injury (most important)
smoking
DM
Outcomes of locking vs. nonlocking plates in tibial plateau fractures
equivalent complications and outcomes vs. non-locking plate
Most likely organism in Septic arthritis in an IV drug user?
Still Staph aureus, although higher likelihood of pseudomonas
What is the danger of using a retrograde entrypoint posterior to Bloomensats line?
Damage to cruciate ligaments.
Wound Healing: Lymphocyte count should be greater than … ?
1500 / mm^3
What approach is used with posterior wall, posterior column and most t-type/transverse fractures?
Kocher-Langenbach
Name 3 treatment options of femoral neck nonunion
Valgus intertrochanteric osteotomy
free vascularized fibular graft
arthroplasty
What injury is suspected when a foot presents locked in supination?
MEDIAL subtalar dislocation.
Lateral is less common, more likely to be open and will be locked in pronation.
Dislocation is defined by direction of distal aspect - i.e. the foot.
The blocks to reduction are the structures on the OPPOSITE side of the foot.
Indications for glenoid fixation (fracture characteristics - 3)
- > 25% invovlement with subluxation of humerus
- > 5 mm step
- excessive medialization of glenoid (+1 cm)
What is the rate of posterior mal fractures with a) spiral distal third fracture and b) any tibial shaft fracture ?
a) 40%
b) 10%
What are the 5 simple acetabular fracture types?
- Posterior wall (Gull Sign)
- Posterior Column
- Anterior wall
- Anterior column
- Transverse
If doing a distal ulna wafer resection, what is the most important technical consideration?
Maintain ulnar attachment of TFCC
Most common cause of Gas Gangrene? And abx required?
Clostridium
Abx should be Pen G and Clindamycin
Mortality rate at 1 year after hip fracture in elderly
15-35%
Higher with CRF: 45%
What returns to normal faster following successful treatment of Septic Arthritis: esr or crp?
CRP
ESR is slower to rise following infection and slower to normalize following treatment.
Distance from radiocapitellar joint that radial nerve passes through lateral intermuscular septum?
10 cm
Best order for insertion of cannulated screws?
1-inferior screw along calcar (posterior aspect)
2-posterior/superior screw
3-anterior/superior screw
Starting point at or above level of lesser troch
Femoral Head Fracture Classification. Describe
Pipkin
I: infrafoveal, not involving weight bearing surface
II: suprafoveal, involving weight bearing surface
III: associated femoral neck fracture
IV: associated acetabular fracture
Benefits of Hemiarthroplasty over THA in femoral neck fractures
Lower incidence of post-operative dislocation
lower blood loss
lower operative time
How to view entry point for SI screw?
lateral sacral view and pelvic outlet/inlet views
What is an Essex-Lopresti injury and how do you treat it?
- Radial head fracture with an interosseous membrane injury extending to DRUJ
- Pin DRUJ for 6 weeks in neutral. If that doesn’t work may need radial head replacement.
Acetabular approach with highest risk of avn to femoral head?
Kocher-Langenbach
Which Lauge-Hansen type is associated with anteromedial talar impaction?
Supination-Adduction
Consider anteromedial approach to address marginal impaction.
A laterally displaced scapula is a radiologic clue to what serious injury?
Scapulothroacic dissociation
What is a specific technique to prevent varus collapse when doing a proximal humerus locking plate?
Placement of an inferomedial calcar screw
Wound Healing: ABI should be greater than … ?
0.45
4 xray findings of DRUJ injury?
- ulnar styloid fx
- widening of joint on AP view
- dorsal or volar displacement on lateral view
- radial shortening (≥5mm)
What were you doing when you injured the FHL in calc ORIF?
Putting screws that were too long into the constant (superomedial) fragment
(I was watching Dr. Liew re-do some screws the fellow put in)
Outcomes of spinal vs. GA in elderly with hip fractures?
Similar outcomes
Strong evidence
AAOS CPG 2014
Now you can tell your patients it doesn’t matter
Which direction of subtalar dislocation is more common? More likely to be open?
Medial more common
Lateral more likely to be open
What is the recommendation for VTE prophylaxis in trauma?
Start LMWH as soon as possible (within 24h if possible)
Supplement with pneumatic compression devices
What is the Sanders classification based on?
Number of articular fragments seen on the coronal CT image at the widest point of the posterior facet
Surgial approach for Pipkin 1/2
Smith-Peterson
or
watson jones
± surgical dislocation (but this is a posterior approach)
Acceptable alignment parameters for humeral shaft fracture?
Judet Approach:
- main indication
- interval
- internervous plane
- glenoid/scapular neck fractures
- infraspinatus and teres minor
- suprascapular nerve and axillary nerve
How long should DM patients be immobilized post ankle ORIF?
Twice as long as normal
4 indications for fixation of sacral fractures
- displaced fractures >1 cm
- soft tissue compromise
- persistent pain after non-operative management
- displacement of fracture after non-operative management
What is optimal tip-apex distance?
< 25 mm
What is the Jean mart method?
Using the angle between a line drawn tangential to the femoral condyles and a line drawn through the axis of the femoral neck to determine if there is rotational malalignment after fixation of a femur
What substitute has been shown to be equivalent to autograft in tibial non-union revisions?
BMP-7
Most common impediment to closed reduction of DRUJ?
Tendon of ECU
6 ways to decrease IM pressure with reaming
a narrow reamer shaft
sharp cutting flutes
deep flutes
a conical shape
Distal venting
Reaming by smaller increments (0.5mm instead of 1mm)
Three main surgical steps when there is a vascular injury requiring repair following knee dislocation.
- reduce and stabilize e.g. Ex fix first
- vascular repair - remove damaged area and use reverse saphenous graft (or bypass, etc as per vascular sx)
- perform prophylactic fasciotomies
JAAOS CPG Distal radius
What is the role for PT and early wrist ROM?
PT: limited evidence for
Early ROM: moderate evidence against - NO early ROM
What is the effect of reaming on vascularity surrounding soft tissues?
Increaes vascularity of surrounding soft tissues
Decreases vascularity of bone
JAAOS 2007 (Bong et al)
How long after fracture fixation before CRP starts to decrease in cases of no infection?
48 hours
Which acetabular fracture type causes dissociation of acetabulum from inominate bone and what is the characteristic plain film finding?
Associated both columns
Spur sign (Gull Wing sign is posterior wall)
How do you treat a Galeazzi fracture?
- Consider closed treatment if stable after closed reduction
- Usually have to do ORIF radius with pinning of DRUJ. Most common bloack to reduction is interposed ECU.
LEAP said Return to work and Sickness impact profile were the same at 2 years after what type of operations?
Limb salvage or amputation
** Also amputation has higher lifetime cost because of prostheses. Both populations have issues with pain and disability in the long term. Educated, rich, caucasians do better in the long term.
Where is the typical comminution with talar neck fractures?
Dorsal and medial
(Therefore medial screws are positional and not lag. The lateral screw can be a lag screw usually)
How much do you want to preserve for great toe amps?
1 cm proximal phalanx. This preserves plantar fascia, sesamoids and FHB.
How much humeral head depression is an indication for hemi-arthroplasty?
40%
What is the significance of roof arc measurements?
Show intact weight bearing dome if > 45 degrees on AP, obturator, and iliac oblique
Need for surgery or not.
Not useful for posterior wall fractures.
Wound Healing: Toe pressure should be greater than … ?
40 mmHg
2 associated injuries with posterior hip dislocation
- Thoracic aorta injury
- Proximal tib-fib dislocation
- acetabular frx
WHat three joints are most predisposed to post-traumatic arthritis?
- ANkle
- Hip
- Knee
What finding indicates an adequate outlet view?
Symphesis shoulder overly S2 body
X-ray beam angled ~45 degrees cephalad (may be as much as 60 degrees)
adequate image when pubic symphysis overlies S2 body
ideal for visualizing:
- vertical translation of the hemipelvis
- flexion/extension of the hemipelvis
- disruption of sacral foramina and location of sacral fractures
What is the deficit if the clavicle heals more than 2 cm short?
Decreased shoulder strength and endurance (McKee Paper - Toronto 2007)
What is the union rate of bisphosphonate fractures compared to conventional fractures when treated with IMN?
1:2 (54% v. 98%)
Also have higher complication rate.
What score gives a numerical value to the top three injuries which are squared to give a final value?
ISS
Solve for x:
Base deficit should be between -x and +x
Lactate should be < x
x = 2
In what orientation should your screws be when fixing a vertical medial malleolar fracture?
Parallel to the joint.
What is a caspase?
Mediator of apoptosis –> Implicated in post traumatic arthritis
2 Options for placing pelvic ex-fix?
Multiple Iliac crest pins or single AIIS pins
Should be done before laparatomy – this is controversial. AO advanced said do it first because laparotomy can cause loss of tamponade if done before ex-fix. Other option is C-Clamp but this will get in the way of posterior fixation.
What direction of knee dislocation has the highest rate of complete popliteal ruptures?
Posterior
Anterior gives you an intimal tear from traction.
Clinical special test to monitor nerve recovery?
Advancing tinels sign
Components of TFCC (5)?
central articular disc
meniscal homologue
volar and dorsal radioulnar ligaments
ulnolunate and ulnotriquetral ligament origins
ECU subsheath
What is the “double arc” sign and what xray is it best seen on?
- “double-arc sign” which represents the subchondral bone of the displaced capitellum and lateral trochlea ridge in a sheer type distal humerus fracture
- lateral of elbow
What differentiates a Milch 1 from a Milch 2 fracture?
Whether or not the lateral intercondylar ridge is intact.
What are the symptoms of Fat Emboli Syndrome?
The major clinical features of FES include hypoxia, pulmonary edema, central nervous system depression, and axillary or subconjunctival petechiae.
Mechanism of Bado 1?
Hyperextension
What is the cutoff for good versus bad bone density when using combined cortical thickness?
4 mm
What is the biggest risk fracture for non-union in open tibia fractures?
Gapping at fracture site.
Also transverse fracture.
(some would use BMP-2 - however some new literature disagrees… something about cancer)
7 indications for surgery in acetabular fractures
Roof arc angle >45 degrees
Subchondral bone 10mm deep on axial CT not intact
Posterior wall >40%
Displacement of roof >2mm
Marginal impaction
intra-articular loose bodies
irreducible fracture-dislocation
What is the drawback of using a strut allograft over vascularized fibula graft for a BBFA fracture with significant segmental bone loss?
Higher risk of infection
How do you check for compartment syndrome intra-operatively?
Pressure > 30 or within 30 of PRE operative diastolic
How long after a pilon fracture will post-traumatic arthritis typically set in?
1-2 years
After you fix the radius in a Galeazzi fracture (radius), what do you do?
Assess DRUJ:
If reduced and stable: 6 weeks casting in supination
IF reduced but not stable: pin for 6 weeks
IF not reduced: Dorsal capsulotomy, remove interposed tissue, usually ECU, fix any large styloid boney fragments, pin for 6 weeks in supination
How do you reduce a subtalar dislocation?
- sedation
- Flex knee and plantarflex foot
- Inversion/Eversion depending on direction of dislocation
- Get a post op CT to look for fractures or intraarticular bodies.
Cemented or uncemented stems in arthroplasty for hip fractures in the elderly?
Moderate evidence supports preferential use of cemented femoral stems in patients undergoing arthroplasty for femoral neck fractures
AAOS CPG Sept 2014
Most common type of Monteggia fracture in kids and adults
Kids: type I: anterior radial head dislocation, apex anterior fracture
Adults: type 2: posterior radial head dislocation, apex posterior fracture
In what order should things be fixed in a terrible triad injury?
(1) restore coronoid stability through fracture fixation or capsular repair
(2) restore radial head stability through fracture fixation or replacement with a metal prosthesis
(3) restore lateral elbow stability through repair of the lateral collateral ligament (LCL) complex
(4) repair the medial collateral ligament (MCL) in patients with residual posterior instability
(5) apply a hinged external fixator when conventional repair did not establish sufficient joint stability to allow early motion.
What do you have to order in addition to standard things when someone has a delayed presentation for hip fracture?
Duplex doppler of bilateral lower extremities
Hip fractures in the elderly should have OR within what time frame?
48 hours
JAAOS CPG
Do you need to give prolonged ABx for a low velocity GSW to femur when planning for a nail?
No
What is the Jupiter classification?
Bicolumnar distal humerus fractures (Milch is unicolumnar)
What position in cast is best to prevent compartment pressure increase (for lower extremity cast)?
0- 30 degrees plantarflexion
If you use a LISS plate for a tibia fracture, what screw holes are typically close to SPN?
11-13
so do these open rather than perc.
Which view allows for assesment of Screw position between the inner and outer tables of the ilium?
Obturator-oblique inlet view
What finding indicates an adequate inlet view?
Overlap of S1 and S2 sacral bodies
Where is the most common Hoffa fragment located?
Coronal shear fracture of lateral femoral condyle
Operative indications in lateral third clavicle fractures? (3 patterns)
- fracture is medial to ligaments (2a)
- fracture is through ruptured ligaments (2B)
- comminuted fracture (5)
What causes the damage to cartilage in septic arthritis?
Release of proteolytic enzymes from PMNs
What is the significance and treatment of varus malunion of a talar neck fracture?
- Causes decreased subtalar eversion
- Medial opening wedge neck osteotomy
Injuries associated with GSW to hip? (3 in order)
bowel perforation > vascular injury > urogenital injuries
Fractures associated with subtalar dislocation
medial dislocation
- dorsomedial talar head
- posterior process of talus
- navicular
lateral dislocation
- cuboid
- anterior calcaneus
- lateral process of talus
- fibula
Nerves at risk with anterior SI plating?
L4 and L5
When comparing operative to nonoperative management of displaced intra-articular calcaneus fractures, what 2 groups of people had better outcomes with surgery?
What was found with all comers?
Women
All-comers NOT on WSIB
All-comers: Equivalent outcomes
How can use you flouro to get proper rotation of a tibial fracture?
Obtain perfect lateral of knee and then rotate c-arm internal by 105-120 degrees and this should give you a mortise view.
Think: From a lateral of knee to AP of ankle you would go internal 90 degrees so to get mortise you add another 15 (105).
What does serendipity view assess?
Sternoclavicular joint
First and last muscles to recover after radial nerve palsy (high)?
- brachioradialis
- extensor indicis
With what movements are hip joint reactive forces highest and lowest?
Highest = rising from chair on affected leg
Lowest = Passive abduction and TTWB
What views for placing AIIS screws and why?
obturator outlet to get start point
obturator inlet to see the path between the tables
iliac inlet to ensure you dont go into GSN
there is no single view (just think about pelvis anatomy). also see JAAOS
In what direction do soft tissues fail in an elbow dislocation and what structure fails last?
- Lateral –> medial
- Anterior bundle of MCL
What is a clinical finding associated with pre-ganglionic injury at level of brachial plexus?
Horners syndrome
scapular winging
elevated hemidiaphragm
atrophy of paraspinals
many more
i.e. this is a root avulsion/injury so you also get loss of function of pre-clavicular plexus branches/structures
What forearm fractures can be treated non-operatively?
Only distal 2/3 isolated ulnar fracture with less than 50% displacement and 10 degrees angulation.
any undisplaced fracture
All other types of forearm fractures are an indication for surgery.
Treatment for extra-articular transabdominal GSW with stable fracture patterns?
IV ABx and observation
How far is sublime tubercle from tip of coronoid?
18 mm
Benefits to TEA in intra articular, comminuted distal humerus fractures in the elderly?
McKee et al RCT:
Quicker procedure, improved DASH scores at 6 months, improved elbow ROM, and decreased revision rates.
Frankle et al reccomend TEA if over 65 and: Arthritis, osteoporosis, or other diagnoses requiring steroids
What part of the urethra is most commonly injured in pelvic trauma?
Bulbous (or bulbomembranous)
4 predictors of mortality with pelvic fractures?
- Systolic BP drop
- 60 years old
- Increased Injury Severity Score (ISS) or Revised Trauma Score (RTS)
- Need for transfusion > 4 units
What is significant about the deltoid branch of posterior tibial artery?
It may be the only remaining vasculature following displaced talar neck fracture.
In proximal humerus fractures what length of medial calcar is associated with a reduced risk of AVN if attached to the articular segment?
8 mm or more
Typical treatment for Sanders IV?
Primary subtalar fusion
Patient has an open pelvic fracture.
WHat non-ortho procedure is reccomended?
Diverting colostomy
What is the best measure of height of prosthesis for proximal humerus?
Relation to pec tendon.
The top of humeral head should be 5.6 cm from top of pec tendon.
Roots associated with ERBs palsy (2)
C5-6
What is primary complciation of Chopart amputation and how to avoid?
- equinus
- TAL and TA to talar neck
JAAOS CPG Distal radius
Should you use vitamin C?
Yes - moderate evidence FOR use to prevent disproportionate pain
List risk factors for mortalitiy with IT hip fractures (6)
Intertroch hip fracture (higher than femoral neck)
Age > 85
Male sex
High ASA >/= 3
High comorbidities (high Charlson Comorbidity Index)
Delay to surgery >2 days
In what plane is syndesmotic stability best assessed?
AP plane (i.e. on lateral)
If a proximal tibial ex-fix pin is placed within 14 mm of the joint line what is a possible complication?
Septic arthritis
What is the characteristic patient that will fail ORIF of Sanders 2-3 Calcaneus and require secondary fusion?
Male worker’s compensation patient who participates in heavy labor work with an initial Böhler angle less than 0 degrees
post-discharge hip fracture in elderly, what should you prescribe (or at least set up) for patients (3)
PT: strong evidence for intensive PT
Interdisciplinary care for mild-mod dementia: strong evidence
Multimodal analgesia: strong evidence
Nutritional supplementation/dietetics consult: moderate evidence
Calcium/Vit D: moderate evidence
Osteoporosis evaluation and treatment: moderate
Three primary stabilizers of DRUJ and what position is it most stable in?
- dorsal radioulnar ligaments
- volar radioulnar ligaments
- TFCC
More stable in supination (because usually ulna dorsally unstable. technically the carpus/radius is translated volar and the ulnar head stays put)
How long after ankle ORIF until proper braking response time is restored?
9 weeks
What is the time cutoff after which you lose the improved outcomes with early repair of miltiligamentous knee injury?
3 weeks
What does the Cierny calssification describe?
Osteomyelitis:
- medullary
- superficial
- local
- diffuse
** 3 and 4 are indications for I and D along with sinus tract and abscess and failure of conservative treatment
Also host type:
Host Type
Type A = Normal
Type B = Compromised
Type C = Treatment is worse to patient than infection
Elderly patient presents 3 days after fall.
Diagnosed with femoral neck fracture.
What is the most relevant non-orthopedic investigation that is required?
Doppler ultrasound
Higher risk of DVT of presentation > 2 days from injury
This was a orthobullets question
Should you use routine preop traction in elderly patients with hip fracture?
No
JAAOS CPG
5 indications for DCO ortho
ISS > 40
ISS > 20+ thoracic/abdominal injury
Bilateral lung contusion
Bilateral femur fracture
Evidence of shock
- Decreased urine output (<50mL/hr)
- sBP < 90mmHg
Lactate >2.5
Triad of Death
- Coagulopathy (Fibrinogen <1)
- Hypothermia (T < 35C)
- Acidotic (pH < 7.2), base excess >8mmol/L
Massive Transfusion Protocol (Transfusion > 4U)
Exaggerated inflammatory response: IL-6 > 800pg/mL
Initial mean pulmonary arterial pressure >24mmHg
Increase of >6mmHg in pulmonary arterial pressure during IM Nailing
Presumed OR time >6 hours
Arterial injury & hemodynamic instability
Increased ICP
What is the greatest risk factor for loss of reduction following posterior pelvic ring fixation? (fracture pattern)
Vertical sacral fracture
Where does the LCL insert (LUCL)?
Crista supinatorus
2 options for ORIF of coronoid (technique)?
- A suture passed through 2 drill holes
- Posterior to anterior lag screws
3 ways to judge reduction in femoral neck fractures
Shenton’s line
Lowell’s alignment theory:
- S shaped head/neck junction on all views
Garden index
- angle of compression trabeculae to femoral shaft on AP should be 160
- angle of compression trabeculae to femoral shaft on lateral should be 180
Femoral neck shaft angle
What has to be elevated out of the way when using an anterolateral approach for talar neck orif?
EDB
What is the interval for posteromedial incision to knee?
semimembranosus and medial head of gastrocnemius
How much fluid do you bolus in a paediatric trauma patient?
20mL/kg
What combination of pressure and solution type should you use for open fracutre I&D?
Saline better than soap (soap had increased reoperation rates)
Pressure doesn’t matter - can be very low, low or high pressure
(FLOW study NEJM 2015)
Calc fractures:
what is the constant fragment
what makes it constant?
Superomedial fragment (sustentaculum)
This remains “constant” due to medial talocalcaneal and interosseous ligaments (ie it’s attachments to the talus)
What percentage of the humeral head does the posterior humeral circumflex artery provide?
64%
Is the saline load test sensitive for traumatic knee arthrotomies?
Unacceptable low sensitivity, even with addition of methylene blue.
What type of hip fracture has the highest mortality at 1 year?
Intertrochanteric
What is the 1 year mortality following hip fracture?
14-36%
Also 50% loss of independance
Highest for Intertrochs
What single patient factor nearly doubles the mortality of patients 2 years following hip surgery for fracture?
Chronic renal failure
What should the head to tuberosity distance be when doing shoulder hemi-arthroplasty?
8-10 mm
What nerve roots are more likely to be injured with sacral fractures?
S2-3 because they occupy a large amount of their foramina comparatively. Injury to S2-S5 will cause impairment of urinary/anal and sexual systems.