Unit 5: Common Fractures Flashcards
What is the periosteum?
The periosteum is the membrane that covers the outside of bones
Define a fracture
A fracture is when a bone is broken
Give two reasons for taking a history after trauma
History taking after trauma is important for both clinical (diagnosis and management) and medico-legal reasons
What five questions should be asked about an accident?
- What happened?
- How did it happen?
- Where and when?
- What was the injured person’s health like before the incident?
- What are the social circumstances of the person?
List six signs which could indicate the existence of a fractured bone
Pain, deformity, tenderness, swelling, discolouration/bruising and loss of function
Name four tissues, other than bone, often involved in injuries to the limbs
Skin, fat, blood vessels and nerves
Name three techniques for investigating a fracture
X-ray, computer-aided tomography and radioisotope scanning
Define an open fracture
A fracture where the overlying skin is broken
Define a closed fracture
A fracture where the overlying skin is intact
Define a spiral fracture and describe how it occurs
Spiral fractures occur through twisting which is a common, low energy mode of injury
Define an oblique fracture and explain how it occurs
An oblique fracture flows diagonally across the bone. It caused by buckling or direct injury to the bone. This involves a lot of energy, resulting in soft tissue stripping and damage to the blood supply
Define a transverse fracture and explain how it occurs
In a transverse fracture the break is in a straight line across the bone. It is caused by buckling or direct injury to the bone. This involves a lot of energy, resulting in soft tissue stripping and damage to the blood supply
Define a simple fracture
A simple fracture is one where there is a single clean break and the overlying skin and tissue are not torn
Define a butterfly fracture
A comminuted fracture resulting from 2 oblique fractures forming a ‘butterfly fragment’
Define a comminuted fracture
A bone injury that results in more than 2 separate bone components is known as a comminuted fracture
List eight features necessary to describe a fracture
- Which bone is broken?
- Which side?
- Open or closed?
- Where on the bone is the fracture?
- What shape is the fracture?
- How many fragments?
- The position of the distal fragment
- Is it pathological?
Which fragment of a fractured bone is assumed to be stationary?
The proximal fragment of a fractured bone is assumed to be stationary
In which directions may the distal fragment of a broken bone be displaced?
The distal fragment of a broken bone may be displaced anteriorly, posteriorly, medially or laterally
What is a pathological fracture?
A pathological fracture is one in which the fracture seems out of proportion to the violence of the injury. This suggests that the bone is weak as a result of osteoporosis or other diseases such as cancer
In which directions may the distal fragments of a broken bone be angulated?
Anterior, posterior, varus or valgus
In which directions may the distal fragments of a broken bone be rotated?
Internal or external
Describe the initial management and investigation of an injured patient
Name two ways in which pain can be relieved following a fracture
Following a fracture pain can be relieved by the use of drugs and splintage
Why should special care be taken with open fractures?
Special care should be taken with open fractures as contamination is inevitable and may lead to infection
How much blood may be lost from a pelvic fracture?
Six units of blood
How much blood may be lost from a femoral fracture?
Two to three units of blood
What is a closed reduction?
Closed reduction may be achieved by traction on the distal fragment and then a relocation of that distal part back onto the proximal fragment by manipulation
