Written Exam - Fracture Fixation Methods Part 1 Flashcards

1
Q

what is this instrument?

A

kern bone holding forceps

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

what is this instrument?

A

self-retaining retractors - gelpi retractors

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

what is this instrument?

A

soft tissue elevators

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

what instrument is this?

A

jacob’s chuck & key

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

regardless of method used, what is always necessary when using pins & bones?

A

must always use bone holding forceps to drive the pin into the bone & use a clamp as a brace to drive against

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

what is the desired drill settings for orthopedic surgeries?

A

high torque & low speed - decreases friction, won’t necrose the bone, & won’t cause complications at the bone/pin interface

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

what is a direct method in fracture fixation?

A

precise reconstruction of bone column - using IM pins & full cerclage wires

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

what is an indirect method in fracture fixation?

A

precise reconstruction isn’t desired or possible - external skeletal fixation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

what types of fractures are suitable for cerclage wire & IM pin placement?

A

two piece long oblique fractures or spiral fractures

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

how many twists should remain after cutting the cerclage wire?

A

at least 2

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

how do you determine how many wires should be placed & how do you determine how tight the wires should be?

A

length of the fracture line - at least twice the bone diameter & spaced 2 bone diameters apart

use a periosteal elevator to try & shift the wires up & down the bone - if they shift, retighten them (if indicated)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

how does a surgeon determine the length of an IM pin after it has been applied in the medullary canal?

A

use another pin that is the same size to determine the length

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

when is it appropriate to use a single IM pin as a sole means of fracture fixation?

A

never

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

how does a surgeon decide when to apply an IM pin in normograde or retrograde fashion?

A

fracture location & desired position for pin in the bone that is fractured

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

how does a surgeon decide on the size & length of an IM pin?

A

based on the size of the medullary cavity of the bone that is fractured & location/length of the fracture within the bone

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

if the surgeon was presented with a long oblique fracture of the radius, why would an IM pin & cerclage be disregarded as a fixation method?

A

there are no safe entry/exit points for the IM pin

the radius has a small intramedullary canal

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

how would you propose to use a drill in a sterile surgery if you did not have access to a sterilization method that is used for orthopedic drills (referral to a specialist is not an option!)?

A

sterilized pins & bits to be used

use an autoclave pouch to sterilize the drill

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

if your bit or pin is wobbling when the power (trigger is pulled) is applied, what could be the reason?

A

pin is either bent or not centered

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

when & why is the reverse function used in the drill?

A

backing up a transosseous pin - if you forcefully pull out the pin, you will strip all of the threads from the bone & it won’t be tight anymore

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

what degree of force should be used for drilling into bone?

A

steady, light pressure

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

what are IM pins good for?

A

support bending forces in all planes - so small increases in the diameter of the pin result in an exponential increase in bending support

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

what is the recommended size of IM pin to be used? why?

A

one that is no greater than 70% of the IM cavity at the most narrow point - want to avoid damaging the bone blood supply & negatively impact bone healing

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

why should IM pins never be used as a single method of internal fracture fixation?

A

they do not prevent rotation/shear or counteract axial forces (compressive & distractive)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

what is the strength of the IM pin?

A

ability to resist bending forces

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

why is cerclage wire useful?

A

impart interfragmentary compression across a fracture & provide good rotational stability & resistance to axial compression

26
Q

how is cerclage wire used properly?

A

the fracture must be at least twice the diameter of the bone & the fracture must be perfectly reduced

27
Q

why are cerclage wires not used for comminuted fractures?

A

the small pieces may collapse into the fracture during tightening of the wire

28
Q

what is the minimum of cerclage wires that should be used in fracture fixation? why?

A

at least 2 if not more - using only one causes a fulcrum

29
Q

where should cerclage wires be placed in relation to fractures?

A

placed at least the bone diameter apart & greater than 1/2 of the bone diameter from the fracture line (proximal & distal tip of the fracture)

placed perpendicular to the bone with even tension, tight wires

30
Q

what happens if the cerclage wires aren’t applied tightly enough?

A

loose wires damage bone blood supply

31
Q

why should you not cut completed wires until all wires are placed?

A

wires will loosen when applying additional wires

32
Q

when are IM pins & cerclage wires most useful?

A

cases with two-piece, long
oblique or spiral fractures and when rapid bone healing is expected (excellent
blood supply, young patients, good owner compliance).

when properly applied, this method of fracture fixation provides adequate support of the fracture forces (most
basically = bending, axial and rotational forces) needed for fracture healing!)

33
Q

what is torque?

A

rotational force

34
Q

what is the most common IM pin used?

A

steinmann pin - sharp end, avoid using threaded pins

35
Q

T/F: pin size depends on fracture location

A

true

36
Q

how is an IM applied?

A

use either a jacob’s chuck or drill

37
Q

what is retrograde insertion of an IM pin?

A

pin is inserted from the fracture site & driven through the epiphysis (outside of the bone) & the fracture is reduced & the pin is advanced across the fracture

38
Q

what is normograde insertion of an IM pin?

A

pin is inserted at the epiphysis outside of the bone & driven across the fracture line

39
Q

what are the advantages & disadvantages of normograde IM pin placement?

A

advantages - much less risk of driving the pin through the sciatic nerve & less soft tissue irritation

disadvantages - more difficult pin placement & requires more experience

40
Q

what are the advantages & disadvantages of retrograde IM pin placement?

A

advantages - technically easier & hold the limb with the hip in extension & limb adducted to minimize possible nerve entrapment

disadvantages - easy to catch the nerve & may impinge on the femoral neck

41
Q

what is countersinking? how is it done?

A

technique used to recess pin into the bone so it won’t damage soft tissues

back the pin off a bit & cut it as close as possible to the bone, tap it in gently

42
Q

T/F: it is okay to leave IM pins in permanently

A

true

43
Q

when is a cross pin technique used?

A

useful in repairing all types of physeal & metaphyseal fractures - some rotational stability achieved

44
Q

what are the principles of cerclage wires?

A

good rotational & axial support, imparts interfragmentary compression, complete reconstruction of bone column required

45
Q

what is the definition of a long oblique fracture?

A

fracture is 2.5X the diameter of the bone

46
Q

what must be done to have properly applied cerclage wires?

A

minimum of two - placed bone diameter apart, perpendicular to the bone, no soft tissues entrapped, & must be tight

47
Q

T/F: when used correctly, cerclage wires don’t inhibit blood supply of healing callus

A

true

48
Q

if a wire passes through a hole, its what?

A

hemicerclage wire

49
Q

what 5 disruptive forces must be controlled to achieve fracture healing?

A

tension, compression with shear, torsion/rotation, bending, & combination

50
Q

what are some fracture conditions that must be satisfied to achieve fracture healing?

A
51
Q

what are some fracture conditions that must be satisfied to achieve fracture healing?

A
  1. restore anatomy
  2. establish stability
  3. perserve blood supply
  4. early mobilization of limb/patient
52
Q

what is a bending force?

A

when bending forces occur, tensile forces occur on the convex surface & compressive forces occur on the concave side

53
Q

what is an axial/compressive force?

A

stress is placed in a plane perpendicular to the applied load, so when an animal walks, ground reaction forces create an axial collapse in an unsupported bone

54
Q

what is tension force?

A

distractive force is applied in a perpendicular fashion

55
Q

what is shear force?

A

energy acts parallel to the bone surface & causes an angular limb deformity

56
Q

what is torsion force?

A

occurs when a rotational force is applied along the long axis of a bone

57
Q

in order for a cast to counteract the fracture forces, how must it be applied?

A

adequately cross a joint above & below the fracture

58
Q

why are casts really only effective for fractures in distal extremities?

A

casts can counteract bending & rotational forces, but due to practical application, they can’t be done above the hip/shoulder

59
Q

cast support with axial compression is only adequate for what fracture type? why?

A

greenstick fractures, fractures with an intact bone closely associated (radius/ulna), or transverse fractures that are reduced >50% apposition in orthogonal rads

axial collapse is present in all fractures, and unless the bone segments are in direct apposition during weight bearing, there is little support provided during weight bearing

60
Q

why are casts not recommended for fractures involving the greater trochanter, olecranon, tibial tuberosity, & tuber calcanei?

A

casts are unable to resist the tensile forces created by musculotendinous insertions on bony apophyses

61
Q

how long does indirect healing of a fracture take in a mature dog or cat?

A

8-12 weeks minimum