Professional Documents
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For Fractures
For Fractures
For Fractures
Fractures
By Majd
• According to etiology (cause)
1. Traumatic fractures : direct trauma - indirect – avulsion fracture {Common}
2. Fatigue (stress) fractures : repeated stresses (repeated minor trauma) common in metatarsals.
3. Pathological fractures : minor stress is placed upon a bone that is weakened by pre-existing disease cancer – ostéoporoses – Bone cyste
•PATTERN OF FRACTURE (line of fracture)
• Transverse fracture (most stable):caused by bending moment (angulation)
• Oblique fracture (less stable)
• Spiral fracture: more unstable, caused by torsion moment (twisting)
• Comminuted fracture: more than two pieces, cause by violent trauma.
•
•
Compression (impact) fracture: very stable, occurs in spongy bone.
Green stick fracture occurs in children, where the bone is soft like the stem of the plant.
Type of fractures
•FRACTURE STABILITY
• Stability of fracture depends on:
1. line of fracture :transverse fracture is usually stable- oblique fracture is usually unstable.
2. Muscle pull: unbalanced muscle pull tends to redisplace certain fracture e.g. fracture shaft of femure& forearm bones.
3. Integrity of the supporting ligaments: a wedge compression fracture of the spine is stable because spinal ligaments are intact. In contrast, fracture
dislocation of the spine is unstable because the spinal ligaments are torn
• FRACTURE DISPLACEMENT
• Displacement of a fracture is caused by: •Direction of trauma. •Muscle pull. •Gravity.
• The direction of fracture displacment is described according to the position of the distal fragment in relation to the proximal one
• Types of displacement include: Angulation. - Displacement. - Rotation. - Overriding.
• OPEN AND CLOSED FRACTURED
• Closed fracture (simple fracture): when there’s no communication between the site of fracture and the exterior of the body
• Open fracture (compound fracture): when there’s a wound leading down to the fracture site The wound must create a communication between the
fracture site and the wound , This type of fracture is subjected to contamination by micro-organism from the air.
Physical Therapy program during the immobilization period
in fractures
• Clinical union:
• Radiographic union:
fracture is clinically united and X-ray shows disappearance of fracture line and re-establishment of cortical
continuity, i.e., consolidation of fracture
HEALING OF A FRACTURE The inflammatory phase
Healing of cortical bones •Lasts 1-2 weeks
•Healing of the fracture starts as soon as the •Takes from 2-3 months
fracture occurs. •Increased vascularity
•Stages of healing of cortical bones include:
•Rate of healing depends on •Formation of fracture haematoma
• Inflammatory phase.
1. The age of the patient • •Invaded by inflammatory cells e.g. neutrophils,
Proliferation phase:
2. The type of bone (cortical or macrophages, and phagocytes
• Subperiosteal and endosteal cellular
cancellous), may influence the
speed of union. proliferation. •Osteoclasts function to clear necrotic tissue,
3)Blood supply to the bone fragments • Callus formation. preparing the ground for the reparative phase.
4)Immobility. • Consolidation.
•Radiographically, the fracture line may become
• Remodeling phase more visible as the necrotic material is removed.
The Proliferation (reparative) phase The remodeling phase Prerequisites for healing
• Lasts several months •Requires months to years. •Adequate blood supply
•Adequate fixation
• Fracture hematoma is invaded by chondroblasts, and •Osteoblastic + osteoclastic activity = replacement of •Opposition of the ends of the fracture
fibroblasts which lay down the matrix for the callus immature disorganized bone with mature organized bone. fragments
between the edges of the fracure from outside (at the •Medullary canal gradually reforms
periosteum) and from the inside (at the endosteum. •With rigid fixation and absence of micro
•Trabecular continuation occurs. movement between fragments, primary bone
•Some correction of angular deformities may occur due to bone healing.
• Soft callus is formed of fibrous tissue, cartilage, and
resorption from the convex surface and new formation on the •With less rigid fixation secondary healing
small amounts of bone.
concave surface. occurs.
•Radiographically fracture is no longer visualized
Primary bone healing
• In the presence of a rigid fixation
• Rigid fixation requires direct cortical contact & intact intramedullary vasculature
• The new bone grows directly across the compressed bone ends to unite the fracture.
• Very slow
• Cannot bridge fracture gabs
• No radiographic evidence of a bridging callus
• Occurs 2 weeks from the time of injury.
• Healing process depends primarily on osteoclastic resorption of bone followed by osteoblastic
new bone formation.
• Local swelling
Acromioclavicular separation.
Sternoclavicular separation.
Fracture of the midshaft of the clavicle
Trauma: .
Falling (landing) on an outstretched hand.
Direct blow to the point of the shoulder.
Displacement: the broken clavicle usually overlap because of the weight of the upper limb
normally transmitted through the clavicle
Duration of healing: In adults: 6 weeks In children: 2-3 weeks
Treatment:
Sling: to support the arm, for 10 days if pain permits
Must not rub against the fracture
Figure of 8 bandage: to pull the shoulder backwards
Internal fixation: rare
Complications:
Malunion: unavoidable but doesn’t interfere with function.
Non-union: unusual.
Both can be avoided by internal fixation, but the surgery is risky to the vessels.
Deformity: due to malunion and callus.
Damage to vessels: the vessels of the lung.
Fractures of the scapula
Trauma: usually direct blow.
Sites:
Acromion
Blade (body) of the scapula
Glenoid
Treatment:
Immobilization in a sling and early mobility.
Shoulder dislocation
The shoulder is mechanically unstable
It can be dislocated
Anteriorly
Posteriorly
Inferiorly
in association with a fracture (fracture dislocation(
multidirectional
Anterior shoulder dislocation
The most common type of dislocation.
Trauma:
Forceful abduction and external rotation.
Grand mal attacks or electroconvulsive therapy.
Pathomechanics:
The head of the humerus slips off the front of the glenoid cavity.
Treatment
Conservative treatment: by u slab, hanging cast or collar and cuff. To protect the humerus.
Some degree of mal-alignment is acceptable.
ORIF: in cases of failure of conservative treatment, mal-alignment or pathological fracture.
Complications:
Neurovascular damage: to the radial nerve or brachial vessels by the sharp ends.
Malunion
Non-union: esp. when soft tissue is caught between the fracture fragments.
Fractures around the elbow
Supracondylar fracture of the humerus:
Trauma:
Falling on an outstretched arm.
Common in children
Treatment:
Undisplaced fractures: backslab with the elbow fl exed for 3 weeks
Displaced fracture
Closed reduction and immobilization in a backslab with the elbow fl exed beyond 90 or suspension in a
dunlop traction
Internal fixation with K wiring: percutaneous or open.
Complications
Vascular damage to the brachial artery.
Compartment syndrome.
Volkmann’s ischemic contracture.
Median nerve damage.
Malunion: cubitus varus or gunstock deformity: treated by osteotomy.
Myositis ossificans
Elbow dislocation
Trauma: falling on an outstretched arm in almost full extension ➞ant. Dislocation with coroniod .
Treatment
Reduction
Immobilization in a caller and cuff for 2 weeks
Complications
Joint stiffness.
Ectopic ossification (post-traumatic ossification).
Olecranon fracture
Trauma:
direct fall on the elbow point
Avulsion injury by triceps violence.
Pathomechanics: the fracture may be:
Stable
Displaced
comminuted
Treatment:
conservative treatment: splintage in extension.
Internal fixation: screw or tension band wiring.
Excision of the olecranon.
Fracture of the radius and ulna
“fracture both bones upper limb”
Trauma:
Twisting injury of the forearm.
Pathomechanics:
Displacement of the bones and rotation is common.
Radiographs should be checked carefully.
Treatment:
Internal fixation is the treatment of choice because the fracture is
unstable.
Conservative treatment may be successful in children )above elbow cast(
External fixation in cases of open fracture.
Single forearm fracture
Galleazzi fracture:
Single fracture of the RADIUS with dislocation of the DISTAL radioulnar
joint.
Monteggia fracture:
Fracture of the ULNA with dislocaiton of the SUPERIOR radioulnar joint.
Complications
Malunion.
Sudeck’s atrophy.
Rupture of the extensor pollicis longus
Median nerve injury
FRACTURES OF THE LOWER LIMB
Trauma
FRMORAL NECK FRACTURE
Trivial trauma (due to osteoporotic femoral neck)
Pathomechanics
The fracture displaces in external rotation and shortened, so the leg appears shortened and
externally rotated
Types of fracture:
Displaced fracture:
Subcapital: worst prognosis. Why? TREATMENT
Transcervical
Undisplaced fracture:
Basal Internal fixation OR rest in bed with frequent
Undisplaced impacted fracture
radiographs
Blood supply to the femoral head: Displaced fracture:
Capsule
Internal fixation with several pins, crossed
Medullary cavity
Ligamentum teres nails,cannulated screw, or compression screw plate.
Complications: Prosthetic replacement: hemiarthroplasty
Avuscular necrosis
Tompson (cemented) or Austin Moore (non-
malunion
cemented)
FRMORAL NECK FRACTURE
FRMORAL NECK FRACTURE
TROCHANTERIC FRACTURE
• An extra-articular fracture between the greater and the lesser trochanters.
• Classification:
• Pertrochanteric: through the trochanters
• Intertrochanteric: between the trochanters
• Subtrochanteric: below the trochanters
• Avulsion of the greater trochanter
Trauma: a considerable trauma, that may be:
• Falling on the trochanter
• Twisting injury
• As the fracture is extra-articular, blood supply to the head of the femur is not compromised.
TREATMENT TROCHANTERIC FRACTURE
Inter-trauchanteric or pertrochanteric fractures
• Internal fixation with dynamic hip screw (compression screw plate)
• If internal fixation is not possible, skin traction is applied for 4-6 weeks.
Subtrochanteric fracture:
Internal fixation with dynamic hip screw or intramedullary nail.
FRACTURES OF THE FEMORAL
• Trauma:
SHAFT
• Direct trauma
• Twisting injury
• Trauma from the front of the knee (weep lash accident).
• The fracture is usually displaced by the pull of the strong muscles of the thigh.
• Pathological fractures and compound fractures are common in the femoral shaft.
Treatement.
Internal fixation with dynamic compression screw.
CONDYLAR FRACTURES
One condyle may be separated
The two condyles may be fractured in a T or Y manner
Perfect reduction is essential for the function of the knee.
Complications:
Avascular (aseptic) necrosis.
Early osteoarthritis.
TREATMENT
Traction: in non-diplaced or minimally displaced fractures.
Internal fixation:
Essential if the fracture is displaced.
Screws are used in unicondylar .
Condylar plate for T or Y shaped fractures
PATELLAR FRACTURES
• Treauma:
• Direct blow: leads to:
• Transverse undisplaced fracture (stellate #).
• Comminuted fracture.
• Avulsion by violent contraction of the quadriceps: causes transverse displaced fracture.
• TREATMENT
• Long leg cast for stellate fracture:
• Internal fixation with tension band: for
• transverse displaced fractures
• Excision of the patella: for comminuted fracture
FRACTURES OF THE TIBIAL PLATEAU
• Trauma: lateral strock to the knee (may 6alternatively cause medial
collateral lig. Tear).
• Patterns of fracture:
• INTERNAL FIXATION:
MANAGEMETN
Conservative treatment: • Indications:
If the stability of the fracture is good Below • If the fracture is unstable.
knee plaster cast for 8 weeks • If the joint surface of the ankle is disturbed.
• Types of fixation that may be used
Check x ray should be done every 10 days.
• Screws: for maleoli and diastasis
Weight bearing is permitted after 4 weeks • Plates and screws
• Joint replacement if the ankle is damaged.
COMPLIACTIONS
• Mal-union
• Osteoarthritis
FRACTURE OF THE ANKLE
(POTT’S FRACTURE)
FRACTURE OF THE ANKLE
(POTT’S FRACTURE)
FRACTURE OF THE ANKLE
(POTT’S FRACTURE)
For spine fracture return to spine fractures of
dr.mona