Upper extremity: Forearm, wrist and hand Flashcards
Metacarpal vs phalangeal fracture
○ Metacarpal fx
■ More common in adults
■ Most common fx in the hand Boxer’s Fx-Distal
5 th mcp
○ Phalangeal fx
■ More common in children
■ Distal phalanx fx most common in adults
Metacarpal/Phalange Fractures etiology
○ Axial loading & direct trauma
○ Avulsions
Metacarpal/Phalange Fractures clinical presentation
○ Local tenderness & swelling
○ Deformity (shortening, rotation)
○ ↓ ROM
○ Possible ↓ sensation
Metacarpal/Phalange Fractures diagnosis
● Diagnosis
○ X-ray
■ Phalanges → PA & Lateral
■ Metacarpals → PA, Lateral, & Oblique
Metacarpal/Phalange Fractures Management: boxer fx
■ <15° angulation, ulnar gutter splint x 2-3 weeks
■ >15° angulation, if full finger extension maintained, ulnar gutter splint x 2-3 weeks
■ >40° angulation or with extension lag → refer to ortho
Metacarpal/Phalange Fractures Management: nondisplaced fx
■ Cast/splint x 3 weeks (phalanges), x 4 weeks (metacarpals)
● More time = ↓ ROM/Stiffness
● Cast/splint joints above & below & adjacent bones
Metacarpal/Phalange Fractures Management: Displaced Fx & Intra-articular Fx
Refer to ortho
Metacarpal/Phalange Fractures complications
○ Joint stiffness
○ Malunion
○ Malrotation
Fracture of the Base of the Thumb
Metacarpal etiology
Traumatic
■ MVA & Bicycle accidents
“Bennett Fracture”
oblique fx, base of thumb,
involves carpometacarpal joint CMC
- The Bennet fx involves the base of the
thumb (1 st ) metacarpal & involves the 1 st
CMC join
“Rolando Fracture”
Y-shaped intra-articular
fracture, base of thumb CMC
- The Rolando fx is a comminuted intra-articular
Bennet’s fracture with a Y-shaped appearance
Fracture of the Base of the Thumb
Metacarpal: clinical presentation
○ Swelling
○ Pain
○ ↓ range of motion
○ Occasionally deformity at the base of the thumb
■ Dorsally & radially displaced metacarpal shaft may be obvious on inspection or palpation
○ Crepitus may be present with intra-articular fractures
Fracture of the Base of the Thumb
Metacarpal Diagnosis
○ X-ray
■ Robert view
● Hyperpronated hand, the dorsum of the thumb lies on the X-ray plate (true AP view of
the thumb)
■ Bett view
● Pronated hand ~20-30° & the imaging beam is directed obliquely at 15° (distal to
proximal direction, centered over the trapeziometacarpal joint
Fracture of the Base of the Thumb
Metacarpal management: Rolando fx
■ If the fracture is non-displaced,<1 mm of articular step off, then
percutaneous pinning may be attempted.
■ Displacement with large (>3 mm) fragments indicates ORIF
Fracture of the Base of the Thumb
Metacarpal management: Bennett fx
■ Closed reduction & thumb spica cast immobilization is effective if the
reduction can be maintained.
■ If closed reduction is unsuccessful or the fracture displaces after
reduction, then percutaneous pinning may be attempted.
Fracture of the Base of the Thumb
Metacarpal complications
○ Stiffness
○ ↓ ROM
○ Arthritis
Scaphoid Fracture etiology
○ MOI = FOOSH
■ forceful dorsiflexion &
compression of the scaphoid
against the the radius
○ young adult men
○ fall, athletic injury, MVA
Scaphoid Fracture clinical presentation
○ Snuffbox tenderness
■ Equated with a scaphoid fracture unless
radiographs prove otherwise.
■ If initial X-ray does not show fracture, f/u
Xray should be obtained in 7-14 days,
because the fracture line may be more
visible after some resorption.
○ ↓ ROM
○ Swelling possible
Scaphoid Fracture diagnosis
○ Most sensitive X-ray series includes 4 views: PA, lateral, pronated oblique (60° pronated
oblique), & ulnar deviated oblique (60° supinated oblique)
■ Comparison views of the contralateral wrist may be necessary
○ ~25% of scaphoid fractures are not evident on 1 st X-ray
○ MRI is the most effective imaging modality for suspected scaphoid fx ($$$)
○ Might consider a bone scan. High specificity and sensitivity at 72 hours
Scaphoid Fracture management
○ Suspected fx, initial (negative) x-ray → immobilize for 2 weeks & re-evaluate
■ After 2 weeks, and pain persists over the snuffbox, and still no fracture seen → MRI
○ Nondisplaced fx → cast immobilization recommended
○ Displaced or unstable fractures may require percutaneous pin fixation or compression screw
fixation to prevent malunion
○ Surgery is increasingly used for patients who will not tolerate prolonged casting
Scaphoid Fracture complications
○ delay in diagnosis
○ delayed union
○ ↓ grip strength
○ ↓ range of motion
○ osteoarthritis in radiocarpal joint
Distal Radius Fracture epidemiology and etiology
● Epidemiology
○ Colles Fx (Most common) → distal radius
fragment angled dorsally
○ Smith Fx → distal radius fragment angled
volarly
○ Chauffeurs Fx → oblique fx through the base
of the radial styloid
○ Die-punch Fx → depressed fx, articular radial
surface opposite lunate/scaphoid
● Etiology- FOOSH
Distal Radius Fracture Clinical Presentation
○ Localized pain & swelling of the wrist
○ Painful ROM
○ A “dinner fork” deformity (Colles)
○ Distal neurovascular exam
Distal Radius Fracture diagnosis
○ X-rays (PA, lateral, oblique)
○ May consider CT or MRI of wrist; in
consultation with the orthopedic or
hand surgeon
Distal Radius Fracture management
○ Most patients → outpatient reduction & immobilization
○ Operative repair is multifactorial: Age of patient, baseline functional mobility, hand dominance, instability of fracture, disruption of the radiocarpal & radioulnar ligaments, & patient comorbidities
○ Fractures associated with neurovascular injuries need emergent reductions
■ Assess for acute Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
○ Pain medication as needed
Distal Radius Fracture Complications
○ Redisplacement of fracture
○ Mal/non-union
○ Median nerve palsy (chronic carpal tunnel
syndrome)
○ Arthritis
○ Compartment syndrome
Distal Radius Fracture referral considerations
○ Open fx
○ Associated neurovascular injury
○ Concurrent dislocation
○ Concurrent carpal bone fx
○ Presence of an ulnar styloid fx at its base
■ disrupted radioulnar joint
○ Comminuted fracture pattern
○ Displaced intra-articular fx
○ Unstable fx
Finger Dislocations etiology
Trauma
______ → most common finger dislocations
PIP joints
Finger Dislocations presentation
○ “I jammed my finger”
○ Localized pain & swelling
○ Deformed finger
Finger Dislocations diagnosis
○ Check for skin defects (open dislocations)
○ Ulnar & radial stress testing → tests integrity of collateral ligaments
○ Hyperextension stress testing
○ Joint laxity in a particular direction signifies ligament disruption & instability
○ X-ray: P, lateral, & oblique views prior to reduction
Finger Dislocations management
○ Usually acutely managed by closed
reduction & immobilization
○ Pain medication prn
Finger Dislocations complications
○ Inadequate or delayed reduction (instability, stiffness, deformity)
○ Overaggressive attempts at reduction → fx
○ Redislocation (inadequate stabilization)
○ Muscle contracture (prolonged immobilization)
○ Infection (open fx)