BRAN500 Pathology: Wrist Trauma and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers common wrist fractures, their classification, and the anatomy, etiology, and clinical manifestations of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

Spiral Fracture

A fracture pattern where the bone is twisted apart and the break angles around the bone.

Transverse Fracture

A fracture occurring at right angles to the long axis of the bone.

Displaced Fracture

A fracture where the anatomical alignment of the bone fragments is not preserved, resulting in shift, tilt, twist, or altered length.

Nondisplaced Fracture

A fracture where the anatomical alignment of the bone fragments is preserved.

Stress Fracture

Microscopic fractures resulting from an inability to withstand repeated stressful impact, with about $25\%$ involving the tibia.

Oblique Fracture

A fracture pattern caused by compressive forces.

Butterfly Fracture

A fracture pattern caused by bending forces.

Colles’ Fracture

A fracture of the distal end of the radius in which the distal fragment is displaced posteriorly, often due to a fall onto an outstretched extended hand.

‘Dinner fork’ deformity

The clinical appearance sometimes associated with a Colles’ fracture.

Smith’s Fracture

A fracture of the distal radius with an anterior angulation of the distal fragment, caused by a direct blow or a fall onto a hyper flexed hand.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

An entrapment syndrome of a compression-type mononeuropathy involving one nerve.

Medial Pillar

The structural component of the carpal tunnel formed by the pisiform and hamate bones.

Lateral Pillar

The structural component of the carpal tunnel formed by the scaphoid and trapezium bones.

Median Nerve

The nerve that provides motor supply to hand flexors and sensory supply to the palmar aspect of the lateral $3$ and half phalanges.

Ischaemia

A condition that may develop due to compression of the median nerve, leading to muscle and sensory changes in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

Clinical Manifestations of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Symptoms including pain, tingling, and numbness of lateral $3$ and half digits, night-time distress, and atrophy of thumb muscles.

Carpal Tunnel Diagnosis and Treatment

Diagnosis is based on sensation reduction in the median nerve distribution; treatments include splinting, anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroids, and surgery.