Ch. 15 - Trauma, Mobile, and Surgical Radiography

the displacement of a bone that is no longer in contact with its normal articulation

dislocation

a partial dislocation

subluxation

a forced wrenching or twisting of a joint resulting in a partial rupture or tearing of supporting ligaments, without dislocation

sprain

a bruise type of injury with a possible avulsion fracture

contusion

a disruption of bone caused by mechanical forces applied either directly to the bone or transmitted along the shaft of the bone

fracture

describes how the fragmented ends of the bone make contact with each other

apposition

anatomic alignment of ends of fractured bone fragments, wherein the ends of the fragments make end-to-end contact

anatomic apposition

the ends of the fragments are aligned but pulled apart and are not making contact with each other

lack of apposition (distraction)

the fracture fragments overlap and the shafts make contact, but not at the fracture ends

bayonet apposition

the direction of the angulation and is opposite in relation to the distal part of the fracture fragments

apex

describes loss of alignment of the fracture

angulation

describes the direction or angle of the apex of the fracture, such as a medial or lateral apex, wherein the point or apex of the fracture points medially or laterally

apex angulation

the distal fragment ends are angled away toward the midline of the body and the apex is pointed away from the midline

varus deformity

the distal fragment ends are angled away from the midline and the apex is pointed toward the midline

valgus deformity

a fracture in which the bone does not break through the skin

simple (closed) fracture

a fracture in which a portion of the bone (usually the fragmented end) protrudes through the skin

compound (open) fracture

a fracture that does not traverse through the entire bone

incomplete (partial) fracture

the buckle of the cortex (outer portion of the bone) is characterized by localized expansion or torus of the cortex, possibly with little or no displacement, and no complete break in the cortex

torus (buckle) fracture

the fracture is on one side only; the cortex on one side of the bone is broken, and the other side is bent; a faint fracture line in the cortex may be seen on one side of the bone and a slight bulging or wrinkle-like defect is seen on the opposite side

greenstick fracture

the break is complete and includes the cross-section of bone; the bone is broken into two pieces

complete fracture

the fracture is transverse at a near right angle to the long axis of the bone

transverse fracture

the fracture passes through the bone at an oblique angle

oblique fracture

the bone has been twisted apart and the fracture spirals around the long axis

spiral fracture

the bone is splintered or crushed at the site of impact, resulting in two or more fragments

comminuted fracture

a type of double fracture in which two fracture lines isolate a distinct segment of bone; the bone is broken into three pieces, with the middle fragment fractured at both ends

segmental fracture

a comminuted fracture with two fragments on each side of a main, wedge-shaped separate fragment; has some resemblance to the wings of a butterfly

butterfly fracture

a comminuted fracture in which the bone is splintered into thin, sharp fragments

splintered fracture

one fragment is firmly driven into the other, such as the shaft of the bone being driven into the head or end segment

impacted fracture

an intra-articular fracture of the distal radius often associated with dislocation or subluxation of the radiocarpal joint

barton fracture

a fracture of the distal phalanx caused by a ball striking the end of an extended finger; the DIP joint is partially flexed, and an avulsion fracture is frequently present at the posterior base of the distal phalanx

baseball (mallet) fracture

a longitudinal fracture which occurs at the base of the 1st metacarpal with the fracture line entering the CMC joint, generally includes a posterior dislocation or subluxation

bennett fracture

fracture that involves the distal 5th metacarpal, with an apex posterior angulation best demonstrated on a lateral view; results from punching someone or something

boxer fracture

fracture of the wrist, in which the distal radius is fractured with the distal fragment displaced posteriorly, may result from a forward fall on an outstretched arm

colles fracture

fracture of the wrist, in which the distal radius is fractured with the distal fragment displaced anteriorly, may result from a backward fall on an outstretched arm

smith (reverse colles) fracture

this fracture occurs through the pedicles of the axis (C2), with or without displacement of C2 or C3

hangman fracture

an intra-articular fracture of the radial styloid process

hutchinson (chauffeur) fracture

fracture of the proximal half of the ulna, along with dislocation of the radial head, may result from defending against blows with the raised forearm

monteggia fracture

a complete fracture of the distal fibula with major injury to the ankle joint, including ligament damage and frequent fracture of the distal tibia or medial malleolus 

pott fracture

this fracture results from stress to a tendon or ligament in a joint region; a fragment of bone is separated or pulled away by the attached tendon or ligament

avulsion fracture

fracture that results from a direct blow to the orbit and/or maxilla and zygoma, creates fractures to the orbital floor and lateral orbital margins

blowout (tripod) fracture

a fracture that involves an isolated bone fracture; not caused by tendon or ligament stress

chip fracture

a vertebral fracture caused by a compression-type injury; the vertebral body collapses or is compressed

compression fracture

a fracture of the skull, a fragment is depressed; the appearance is similar to a ping-pong ball that has been pressed in by the finger

depressed (pin-pong) fracture

a fracture through the epiphyseal plate, the point of union of the epiphysis and shaft of a bone; one of the most easily fractured sites in long bones of children

epiphyseal fracture

fractures due to disease process within the bone, such as osteoporosis, neoplasia, or other bone diseases

pasthologic fractures

the fracture lines radiate from a central point of injury with a starlike pattern

stellate fracture

fracture is nontraumatic in origin; results from repeated stress on a bone, such as from marching or running; may be visible only through subsequent callous formation at the fracture site or on a nuc med bone scan

stress (fatigue or march) fracture

fracture of the ankle joint that involves the medial and lateral malleoli, as well as the posterior lip of the distal tibia

trimalleolar fracture

comminuted fracture of the distal phalanx may be caused by a crushing blow to the distal finger or thumb

tuft (burst) fracture