Trauma and Fracture Review Guide

A collection of key terms and definitions related to trauma and fractures for exam preparation.

Skull Fractures

Includes types like Linear, Depressed, Ping Pong, Diastatic, and Basilar fractures.

Linear Fracture

Does not follow sutures, commonly affects frontal and parietal bones.

Depressed Fracture

Occurs when impact causes the bone to press into meninges; make up 15% of skull fractures.

Ping Pong Fracture

Smooth inward buckling of the pediatric calvaria without osseous fragments; periosteal break.

Basilar Fracture

Involves Sphenoid/Temporal bones; typically present with signs like Battle sign and Raccoon eyes.

Nasal Bone Fracture

Common facial fracture caused by direct impact; 45% of facial fractures.

LeFort Fractures

Three classes of midface fractures that affect the maxilla and pterygoid.

Mandibular Fracture

Fracture of the mandible, commonly at the condyle or body.

Occipital Condyle Fracture

Can be classified into impacted, intracondylar, or avulsion types.

Jefferson Fracture

Burst fracture of C1 due to axial force; unstable and involves fractures of the anterior and posterior arch.

Facet Dislocation

Occurs due to flexion and rotation, leading to instability.

Hip Dislocation

Most commonly posterior due to trauma; can lead to sciatic nerve damage.

Patella Fracture

Result of impact or sudden quadriceps contraction; often mid-patella split.

Scaphoid Fracture

Most common carpal fracture; high risk of avascular necrosis.

Colles Fracture

Distal radial fracture with dorsal displacement, commonly seen from falls.

Galeazzi Fracture

Distal radius fracture with associated dislocation of the distal radioulnar joint.

Malgaigne Fracture

Unstable fracture involving bilateral pubic rami and sacroiliac joint.

Gamekeeper's Thumb

Injury to the ulnar collateral ligament of the thumb due to hyperabduction.

Clay Shoveler's Fracture

Avulsion fracture of the nuchal ligament; stable injury.