Chapter 15 Fractures

_________________ describes the loss of alignment of the fracture.

Angulation

These fractures, which result from a direct blow to the orbit and/ or maxilla and zygoma, create fractures to the orbital floor and lateral orbital margins.

Blowout and/or Tripod fx

This fracture usually involves the distal fifth metacarpal, with an apex posterior angulation best demonstrated on the lateral view. It results from punching something or someone.

Boxer fx

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

Butterfly fx

Fracture fragments are realigned by manipulation and are immobilized by a cast or splint. Nonsurgical

Closed reduction

_________________________ fracture fragments are realigned by manipulation and are immobilized by a cast or splint. Nonsurgical

Closed reduction

This 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 fx

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

Comminuted Fracture

In this fracture the break is complete and includes the cross-section of bone. The bone is broken into two pieces.

Complete Fracture

A fracture in which a portion of the bone protrudes through the skin.

Compound (Open) fracture

__________________ is a bruise type of injury with a possible avulsion fracture.

Contusion

A fracture of the skull when a fragment is depressed. The appearance is similar to a Ping-Pong ball that has been pressed in by the finger, but if the indention can be elevated again, it can assume its near original shape.

Depressed fx (ping-pong fx)

____________________ refers to the displacement of a bone that is no longer in contact with its normal articulation.

Dislocation

Fracture through the epiphyseal plate, the point of union of the epiphysis and the shaft of a bone.

Epiphyseal Fx

Radiologists commonly call ______________________ fractures, Salter-Harris classification.

Epiphyseal fx

________________________ fractures are one of the most easily fractured sites in long bones of children.

Epiphyseal fx

Fracture is on one side only. The cortex on one side of the bone is broken and the other side is bent. When the bone straightens, 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 fx (hickory or willow stick fx)

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

Hangman fx

This is an intra-articular fracture of the radial styloid process. (The name originates from the time when hand-cranked cars would backfire, with the crank striking the lateral side of the distal forearm.)

Hutchinson (Chauffeur) fx

In this 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

_________________________ fractures happen most commonly at distal or proximal ends of the femur, humerus, or radius.

Impacted fractures

This fracture does not traverse through the entire bone. It is most common in children.

Incomplete (Partial) Fracture

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

Monteggia fx

The fracture passes through the bone at an oblique angle.

Oblique fx

________________________ For severe fractures with significant displacement or fragmentation, a surgical procedure is required.

Open reduction

For severe fractures with significant displacement or fragmentation, a surgical procedure is required. The fracture site is exposed and screws, plates, or rods are installed as needed to maintain alignment of the bony fragments until new bone growth can take place.

Open reduction with internal fixation ORIF

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

Pathologic fx

This term is used to describe a complete fracture of the distal fibula with major damage to the ankle joint, including ligament damage and frequent fracture of the distal tibia or medial malleolus.

Pott's fx

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 fx

A fracture in which the bone does not break through the skin.

Simple (closed) fracture

This is a fracture of the wrist with the distal fragment of the radius displaced anteriorly rather than posteriorly, as in a colles fracture. It commonly results from a backward fall on an outstretched arm.

Smith (reverse colles) fracture

In this fracture, the bone has been twisted apart and the fracture spirals around the long axis.

Spiral fx

A comminuted fracture in which the bone is splintered into thin sharp fragments.

Splintered fx

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

Sprain

__________________ is a partial dislocation in which a vertebrae is displaced posteriorly.

Subluxation

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 Fx (buckle Fx)

The two types of Incomplete fractures are __________________________, and a _______________________________.

Torus fx, greenstick fx

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

Transverse fx

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

Trimalleolar fx

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

Tuft or Burst fx

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

Valgus deformity

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

Varus midline

The three types of complete fractures are ________________________, _________________________, and a ______________________.

transverse fx, oblique fx, and spiral fx