2. classifications of fractures

what type of fracture is an avulsion fracture

chip fracture

where does an avulsion fracture typically occur

at the corners or in the areas of ST attachment of a long bone where the ligament inserts

avulsion fracture etiology

occurs when a portion of bone is torn away by a muscle or ligament at the point of attachment (due to forceful contraction on that bone)

avulsion fracture treatment

immobilization, surgical pinning may be required

avulsion fracture complications

fragment can impinge a nerve or blood vessel

what is a blowout fracture

fracture of the orbital floor

blowout fracture etiology

blunt force trauma to the face = increased pressure = orbital walls/floor fracture

what does a blowout fracture look like on a radiograph (ie how can we tell it has occurred)

blood pooling in the sinuses, fracture lines

blowout fracture treatment

surgery

blowout fracture complications

infection, double vision, scarring of the muscles in the eye

what is the medical term for double vision

diplopia

what is a comminuted fracture

fracture where the bone has been broken into multiple fragments

comminuted fracture etiology

trauma due to axial loading/a vertical force

comminuted fracture treatment

surgery

comminuted fracture complications

poor healing due to many fracture lines

what are comminuted T and Y fractures + where do they occur in the body

intercondylar fractures of the distal humerus and distal femur

etiology of comminuted T and Y fractures

trauma by high energy forces or direct blows (MVA, falling)

describe the appearance of comminuted T and Y fractures

the bone breaks longitudinally and horizontally forming a line, occurs at joints and the fracture line communicates with the joint

comminuted T and Y fractures treatment

surgery

comminuted T and Y fractures complications

deformity of the bone from poor apposition of the fragments, vascular and nerve damage

describe what multiple fractures are

when there’s more than one fracture separated by intact bone, and the fractures all result from the same injury

where in the body do multiple fractures typically occur

tib/fib, forearm

multiple fractures etiology

trauma

multiple fractures treatment

surgery

multiple fractures complications

poor healing due to many fracture lines

contrecoup fracture description

fracture at the opposite side to the point of initial injury/impact

where do contrecoup fractures usually happen

pelvis, tibia, skill, mandible

for contrecoup fractures, what is “coup”

the initial injury

contrecoup fracture treatment

surgery

contrecoup fracture complications

poor healing, bone deformity

displaced fracture description

fragments are not aligned; can occur minimally, slightly, or significantly

displaced fracture etiology

trauma

displaced fracture treatment

reduction to re-align fragments, immobilization, surgery may be needed

displaced fracture complications

bone deformity = shortening of the limb and decreased mobility

when do stress fractures occur

when there is repetitive strain on the bone

stress fracture etiology

result of microfractures caused by repetitive movements and applied force = small hairline fractures

where in the body do stress fractures occur

weight bearing bones

stress fracture treatment

reduction in the repetitive activity

stress fracture complications

ongoing pain, poor healing, early onset of arthritis

depressed fracture description

a piece of bone is pushed inward or indented

where in the body do depressed fractures occur

skull, tibial plateau

depressed fracture etiology

impaction injury

depressed fracture treatment

surgery

depressed fracture complications

fragments can affect nerves and blood vessels or cause ST damage

impacted fracture description

one portion of bone is driven into its adjacent segment; can also be a compressed or depressed fracture

impacted fracture treatment

reduction, immobilization

impacted fracture complications

poor healing, deformity of the bone

linear fracture description

the fracture line is // to the LA of the bone

linear fracture etiology

trauma

linear fracture treatment

immobilization

linear fracture complications

poor healing

longitudinal fracture description

the fracture line runs along the shaft but is not // to the LA of the bone like a linear fracture is

longitudinal fracture etiology

trauma

longitudinal fracture treatment

immobilization

longitudinal fracture complications

poor healing

transverse fracture description

fracture line is at 90 degrees to the LA of the bone

transverse fracture etiology

trauma

transverse fracture treatment

immobilization

transverse fracture complications

poor healing

oblique fracture description

fracture line runs at an angle that is 25+ degrees from the transverse axis of the bone

oblique fracture etiology

trauma

oblique fracture treatment

immobilization

oblique fracture complications

poor healing

spiral fracture description

fracture line is helical around a long bone, and the edges are very sharp as it twists around

another name for a spiral fracture

torsion fracture

spiral fracture etiology

trauma caused by rotational force (ie skiing)

spiral fracture treatment

surgery to provide good apposition

spiral fracture complications

deformity of bone, fragments can cause further damage to nerves + vessels + ST

stellate fracture description

fracture lines radiate from a central point of impact

where are stellate fracture commonly seen

skull, patella

stellate fracture etiology

trauma, direct blow to the bone

stellate fracture treatment

surgery, wire wrapped around the fragments to contain them, surgeon might remove patella

stellate fracture complications

fragments can impinge on nerves and vessels and cause further damage

pathological fracture description

fracture of a bone that’s already been affected by a pathological disease

pathological fracture etiology

trauma to an already weakened bone

pathological fracture treatment

surgery

pathological fracture complications

ongoing pain, decreased mobility, deformity of long bones

articular fracture description

fracture involving a joint, cartilage and ST may be involved too

articular fracture etiology

trauma

articular fracture treatment

reduction, immobilization

articular fracture complications

post-traumatic arthritis

supracondylar fracture description

involves the area between the condyles of the femur or humerus

femoral supracondylar fracture etiology

impact to a bent knee

humeral supracondylar fracture etiology

fall

supracondylar fracture treatment

surgery

supracondylar fracture complications

poor healing, deformity of the bone

which type

avulsion

which type

blowout

which type

comminuted T and Y

which type

multiple

which type

contrecoup

which type (2)

displaced, transverse

which type

stress

which type

depressed

which type

impacted

which type

linear

which type

longitudinal

which type

oblique

which type

spiral

which type

stellate