Trauma and Orthopaedics Flashcards
What are the three parts of the femoral head when talking about fractures?
Femoral Neck
Intertrochanteric
Subtrochanteric
What are the four red flags for cauda equina?
Saddle anaesthesia
Lower back pain
Bowel or urinary incontinence or retention
Leg weakness
What are the motor tests for the ulnar, radial and median nerve?
Cross fingers
Wrist cocked back
Pincer grip finger to thumb
What is Schober’s Test?
Measures extent of lumbar flexion - measure 10cm above and 5cm below L5, ask patient to lumbar flex, this distance should increase by >5cm
What is the cancer referral time for children?
48-hours
What are common causative organisms of septic arthritis?
Staph aureus
What is Koscher’s Criteria?
Non-weight bearing of affect side
Fever >38.5
ESR >40
WCC >12
What are risk factors for septic arthritis?
Prosthetic joints, diabetes, immunodeficiency, IVDU
What investigations should be done in suspected septic arthritis?
Blood culture, Joint aspiration, Bloods (urate to rule out gout, WCC)
XR will not always show changes for a while
How is septic arthritis treated?
IV antibiotics
Surgery - irrigation and debridgement
What are 3 features of osteomyelitis?
Sequestrum - development of dead bone
Involcrum - formation of new bone
Brodie’s abscess - abscess surronded by thick fibrous tissue and sclerotic bone
What is osteomyelitis treated with?
IV cefuroxime
Surgical drainage and debridement
What types of sarcomas exist?
Rhabdomyosarcoma (soft and connective tissue)
Osteosarcoma (15-19 years old)
Ewing’s Sarcoma
Chondrosarcoma
What are some key and red flag features of sarcoma?
Non-mechanical pain, pain at night
Weight loss
Swelling, lump >5cm, fever
What are some causes of hypercalcaemia?
Hyperparathyroidism (parathyroid adenoma, high PTH)
Malignancy (breast, prostate, thyroid metastasise to bone, PTH will be normal)
How is high calcium managed?
Fluids, bisphosphonates (pamidronate IV)
What is tetany and what is it a sign of?
A clawing of the hand, commonly seen in hypocalcaemia
Where is 25-OH vitamin D found and where is it converted?
Found in the liver, converted in the kidneys
What is osteomalacia?
This is under-mineralisation and bone softening. In childhood it is known as rickets.
Serum biochem will show low serum calcium, raised ALP (raised in bone destruction), treat with vitamin D
What are some classic features of rickets?
Bowed legs, splayed metaphysis, limb deformity, #, slow growth
What is a clinical presentation of osteoporosis?
A fall from standing resulting in a Collies or Hip #
What are risk factors for osteoporosis?
Post-menopausal, early menopause Family history of hip fractures Current smoker Steroid use Obesity, low BMI
What T-Score on a DEXA scan would indicate osteoporosis?
-2.5 osteoporosis
T-score is the standard deviation score compared to adult men or woman at 30 years old
What is a blood marker of bone turnover?
PN1P
How is osteoporosis treated?
Bishosphonates
HRT in woman
What are some clinical features of Paget’s Disease?
An increase in bone turnover (increased osteoblasts and osteoclasts)
Bone pain
Bone remodelling, enlargement and deformity
What are some complications of Paget’s Disease?
Deafness
Myelopathy
What is Paget’s Disease treated with?
Bisphosphonates
Name five types of fracture
Transverse Linear Oblique Spiral Comminuted
What are the three parts to a bone?
Diaphysis (shaft), metaphysis, epiphysis (end)
How is displacement described in fractures?
In relation of the distal part to the proximal part, the angulation (valgus or varus), if there is rotation, shortening or translation
What are the three classifications of joint involvement?
A - away from the joint
B - one part of the joint
C - lack of joint continuity
What are some factors that influence fracture healing?
Age, nutrition, smoking, drugs, site, diabetes, infection
How is an open fracture managed? (six points) (A)
Assessment Antisepsis Alignment Anti-tetanus Antibiotics Analgesia
What is the main blood supply to the femoral head?
Deep femoral artery - medial and lateral circumflex artery
Intraosseous blood supply
Disruption of these can lead to avascular necrosis of the femoral head
What nerves are at risk in shoulder and elbow dislocations and how is this tested for?
Shoulder - axillary, test axillary patch
Elbow - ulnar, test finger crossing
Low calcium, phosphate and vitamin D with a raised ALP and raised PTH indicates…?
Osteomalacia - Vitamin D3 deficiency
Treat with Vitamin D3 supplements
Pain in the anatomic snuffbox indicates…
Scaphoid #
What is a Colles and Barton’s #?
Colles - a # of the distal radius, occurs after a fall onto an outstretched hand
Barton’s - a fracture of the distal radius, but intraarticular
Describe the typical presentation of compartment syndrome and the definitive management?
Recent #, sudden severe pain, worsened by passive movement, pallor
Requires analgesia and a fasciotomy
The presence of a pulse does not rule out compartment syndrome.