T7 Musculoskeletal Trauma and Ortho Surgery

• What kind of shoes should be worn for fall risk patients?

  Functional, non-skin, hard-soled shoes.
• What is a transverse fracture?

  A fracture that is perpendicular to the long axis of the bone.
• What is a spiral fracture?

  A type of bone fracture characterized by a long, curved fracture line resembling a spiral.
• What is a greenstick fracture?

  An incomplete fracture with one side splintered and the other side bent.
• What is an oblique fracture?

  A fracture where the break is diagonal or slanted.
• What is a comminuted fracture?

  A comminuted fracture is a type of bone fracture where the bone is broken into more than 2 fragments.
• What is a pathologic fracture?

  Fracture caused by underlying disease.
• What is a stress fracture?

  A small crack in a bone caused by repetitive stress or overuse.
• What are the stages of fracture healing?

  1. Fracture hematoma
  2. Granulation tissue
  3. Callus formation
  4. Ossification
  5. Consolidation
  6. Remodeling
• What is it called when a fracture is realigned anatomically?

  Reduction.
• What is a closed reduction of a fracture?

  Non-surgical realignment of broken bones.
• What is traction for reduction of a fracture?

  Pulling force applied to reduce a fracture.
• Is skin traction long or short term?

  Short-term (48 - 72 hours).
• How is skin traction applied?

  Onto the skin to reduce muscle spasms.
• How heavy are skin traction weights?

  5 - 10 pounds.
• What is a common skin traction for femur fractures?

  Buck's traction.
• How are skeletal tractions applied?

  Pins or wires are inserted into the bone.
• Are skeletal tractions long or short term?

  Long-term.
• How heavy are skeletal traction weights?

  5 - 45 pounds.
• What are problems related to skeletal traction?

  Infection of pin sites, risk for delayed union or nonunion.
• What are complications of skin traction?

  Pressure sores and prevention of skin breakdown.
• What happens with balance suspension traction?

  Requires correct patient positioning and alignment with constant traction forces.
• How does balanced suspension traction work weight-wise?

  Maintain countertraction typically with the patient's own body weight.
• How long does it take for someone to bear weight on a cast after it was applied?

  36 - 72 hours before weight bearing.
• How do you apply a cast?

  • Cover affected part with stockinette and padding
  • Immerse plaster of Paris material in warm water, wrap and mold
• How long does it take for a cast to set?

  15 minutes.
• Do you cover the cast during drying?

  No, there is a risk for burn and delayed drying.
• What should be known about casts in regards to direct pressure?

  No direct pressure, petal edges.
• What are the two most common materials for casts?

  Plaster of Paris and fiberglass.
• When is a body jacket brace used?

  Immobilization and support for spinal injuries.
• What is the area covered by a body jacket brace?

  Nipple line to pubis.
• What do you monitor for a body jacket brace?

  Superior mesenteric artery syndrome (cast syndrome), assess bowel sounds, assess respiratory status.
• What do you do if someone has abdominal pain with pressure, nausea, and vomiting after having a body jacket brace?

  Gastric decompression.
• When is a long leg cast used over a short leg cast?

  Fractures involving the knee or thigh, or if the ankle is unstable.
• What is a cylinder cast used?

  Knee injuries or fractures.
• What is a Robert-Jones dressing?

  Type of wrapping that temporarily limits mobility.
• How should extremities be managed after a fracture or injury?

  • Elevate above the heart on pillows for 24 hours
  • Do not place in a dependent position
  • Observe for compartment syndrome
• When is external fixation used?

  Use for complex fractures with extensive soft tissue damage.
• What is electrical bone growth stimulation used for?

  Facilitate healing process by increasing calcium uptake and production of bone growth factors, increase collages synthesis, promote growth of new vessels.
• What methods can electrical bone growth stimulation be administered?

  Noninvasive, semiinvasive, and invasive (electrode placement).