Fractures

Question 1

what is a fracture?

Answer 1

-break in continuity of bone

Question 2

_____ are the most common bone lesion

Answer 2

fractures

Question 3

fractures have many ________ for example

Answer 3

classifications for example cause, location, pattern(of actual fracture) & type

Question 4

what are the 2 simple classifications for fractures?

Answer 4

simple (closed) fracture
compound (open) fracture
if skin is broken compound fracture if skin intact simple fracture

Question 5

what is the etiology and patho of fractures?

Answer 5

• force overload
• from 3 categories:
  - trauma
  - fatigue/stress (marathon runner, force usually can handle but cannot handle after many hours)
  - Pathologic (ex. osteoporosis-widespread or malignancy -more localized)

Question 6

manifestations of fracture

Answer 6

• pain
• soft tissue injury
• hemorrhage (with fracture there will always be hemorrhaging because bone is richly vascularized, may or may not see bleeding, if vessels severed within bone wont see, vessels surrounding tissue severed will see bleeding)
• deformity
• loss of function

Question 7

Diagnosing fracture

Answer 7

-hx, px
-x-ray (x-ray will show/reveal complete fracture)
x-ray will be repeated at intervals to look at healing process

Question 8

how do you treat a fracture?

Answer 8

• reduce (bring to alignment) & stabilize
• immobilization
• may have to insert surgical pins to hold in place
• ensure once bone has healed limb is still mobile (healing will take long time) need physiotherapy to work on mobilizing to be able to restore function)
• preserve & restore function

Question 9

what does reduction mean when treating a fracture?

Answer 9

reduction =bring bones back to original position

Question 10

Classification of fractures by type?

Answer 10

greenstick:
- fracture in children
- 1 broken + 1 bent surface

Comminuted:
-multiple pieces at one site

pathologic:
- d/t a bone disorder (eg. osteoporosis, bone cancer) (some pathology gives rise to fracture)

Question 11

what is a greenstick fracture?

Answer 11

greenstick:
- fracture in children
- 1 broken + 1 bent surface

Question 12

what is a comminuted fracture?

Answer 12

multiple pieces at one site

Question 13

what is a pathologic fracture?

Answer 13

-d/t a bone disorder (eg. osteoporosis, bone cancer) (some pathology gives rise to fracture)

Question 14

classification of fracture by pattern?

Answer 14

longitudinal:
- longitudinal break

oblique:
- breaks at a 45 degree angle
- d/t a twisting force

Question 15

classification of fracture by appearance

Answer 15

Burst:

• multiple bone pieces at break (same as comminuted)
• usually at end of bone

chip:
- small fragment near joint

Displaced:
-bone separates at fracture line

(also impacted-if fall impact head of bone)

Question 16

burst and _____ fracture are the same type of fracture

Answer 16

comminuted