Upper and Lower Extremity fractures

Hand Fracture
• A hand fracture is a break in one of the bones
in the hand. This includes the small bones of
the fingers (phalanges) and the long bones
within the palm (metacarpals).
Cause: A broken hand can be caused by a fall,
crush injury, twisting injury, or through direct
contact in sports.
Tx: In most cases, a hand fracture will heal
well with nonsurgical treatment
• Cast
• Splint
• Buddy strap

Surgical Treatment
- Small devices such as wires, screws, pins, staples
and plates may be used to hold the pieces of fractured
bone in place
- (Left) X-ray shows a metacarpal fracture of the ring
finger. (Right) Here, the fracture has been repaired with a
plate and screws.
- (Left) X-ray shows fractures in the phalanges of two
fingers. (Right) In this x-ray, the fractures have been
repaired with screws.

• Signs and symptoms of a hand fracture may
include:
• Swelling
• Bruising
• Tenderness or pain
• Deformity
• Inability to move the finger
• Shortened finger
• The injured finger crosses or “scissors” over its
neighbor when making a partial fist
Diagnostic exam: X-ray
Complications:
- Fingers may become stiff

Fracture of Metacarpal: Boxer’s
fracture• A Boxer’s fracture refers to a break at
the end of the bone nearest the
knuckle of the little finger.
Cause: This type of fracture commonly
occurs when someone punches a hard
surface with a closed fist in which the
little finger knuckle makes contact first.

Treatment
Tx: Most Boxer’s fractures can be
treated with a cast to stabilize the
fracture. If the knuckle is severely
deformed a procedure called a closed
reduction may be needed to push the
fracture back into proper alignment
before casting.
Closed reduction

Fracture of Finger: Busch’s
fracture• is a type of fracture of the base of the distal
phalanx of the fingers, produced by the removal
of the bone insertion (avulsion) of the extensor
tendon.
Cause:
is very common in
motorcycle riders and
soccer joggers, caused
by a hyperflexion when
the tendon is exercising
the maximum tension
(the closed hand
tightening the clutch
lever or the brake lever

Fracture of Metacarpal: Benett
fracture• is a fracture of the base of the first metacarpal
bone which extends into the carpometacarpal
(CMC) joint.
Cause:
• When a person punches a hard object
• It can also occur as a result of a fall onto the
thumb.
• Bike falls
Complications:
• tension from the abductor pollicis longus
muscle (APL) subluxates the fragment in
a dorsal, radial, and proximal direction
• tension from the APL rotates the fragment
into supination
• tension from the adductor pollicis muscle
displaces the metacarpal head into the palm

Tx: Closed reduction and percutaneous pin fixation (CRPP) with
Kirschner wires
Reduction of the displaced
Benett fracture, dislocation
is achieved by longitudinal
traction of the end of the
thumb coupled with
abduction
Benett fracture reduced and
stabilize by percutaneous K-
wire pinning
Kirschner wire

Scaphoid fracture
• is a break of the scaphoid bone in
the wrist.
Cause:
Scaphoid fractures are most
commonly caused by a fall on an
outstretched hand
Diagnostic exam:
X-ray
Complications:
-AVN
-Non union

Non surgical treatment Surgical
- Wrist guard - Percutaenous screw fixation
- Cast
Scaphoid fracture stabilization by percutaneous screw fixation
S/Sx
swelling and tenderness over the thumb sideof the wrist.
There is noticeable tenderness to the touch over the
“anatomical snuff box.” Crunchiness and pain with gripping
motions are also common symptoms that may be found with
such an injury.

Fracture of the Phalanges: Tuftfracture
• A break in any of the distal phalanges
Cause:
- Crush injuries
Non-surgical tx:
- Splint
Complications:
-Avulsion of the nail plate
- Non union

Hand Dislocations: Wrist
There are a few different types of wrist
dislocations. They include:
• Anterior lunate dislocation. The lunate
bone rotates while the other wrist bones
remain in place.
• Perilunate dislocation. This type involves
the lunate bone and the three ligaments
around it.
Lunate dislocations typically occur in young
adults with Lunate dislocations typically
occur in young adults with high energy
trauma resulting in loading of a dorsiflexed
wrist
Anterior lunate dislocation
Perilunate dislocation

• Wrist dislocation: Pain is usually localized to the dorsum of the
wrist over the radioulnar joint. Pronation or supination against
resistance causes pain, and occasionally, a click may be heard
when the wrist is rotated. X-ray examination findings are usually
grossly negative.
- Dorsal dislocation
- Volar dislocation

PIP Dislocation
• dorsal dislocations results from PIPJ hyperextension with
longitudinal compression (i.e. ball striking fingertip)
- leads to tearing of the collateral ligaments and shearing of
the volar plate off of the base of middle phalanx
• Volar dislocation
• dislocation without rotation, results from rupture of central slip
• dorsal dislocations can lead to a swan neck deformity
• volar dislocations can lead to a boutonniere deformity

Radius and Ulna
shaft fractures

Radias shaft fracture
• Isolated fractures of the radial shaft
(proximal two-thirds) are less common
than distal radius fractures.
Cause: These injuries usually occur from
either a direct blow to the forearm or a fall
on outstretched hands
Complications:
include compartment syndrome, malunion,
nonunion, infection, neurovascular
damage, and synostosis.

Tx:
- Sugar tong splint
Generally the standard of care
for radial shaft fractures is
open reduction and internal
fixation with 3.5mm dynamic
compression plating is the
treatment of choice.

Ulna shaft fracture: Nighstick
fracture• isolated fractures of the ulna,
typically transverse and located
in the mid-diaphysis
Cause:
Results from a
direct blow
Complications:
they have a higher rate of delayed
union or non-union.

Treatment
Non-Surgical
- Bandage
- Plaster
- Functional brace
Surgical
- Plate fixation
This fracture was treated by a cast
Complications:
• Damage to the nerves or
blood vessels of the
forearm.
• Abnormal pressure build-
up within the muscles of
the arm/elbow that
reduces blood flow,
preventing oxygen and
nourishment from
reaching the nerve and
muscle cells (termed as
forearm compartment
syndrome)

Ulnar fracture: Monteggiafracture
• is a fracture of the proximal third of
the ulna with dislocation of the
proximal head of the radius. It is
named after Giovanni Battista
Monteggia.
Cause:
- Fall on an outstretched hand with
the forearm in excessive pronation
- Direct blow on back of upper
forearm would be a very uncommon
cause.
Complications:
- union or non-union.

Treatment:
• Closed reduction
• resetting and casting
• Osteosynthesis

Classifications
• I - Extension type (60%) - ulna shaft angulates anteriorly
(extends) and radial head dislocates anteriorly.
• II - Flexion type (15%) - ulna shaft angulates posteriorly
(flexes) and radial head dislocates posteriorly.
• III - Lateral type (20%) - ulna shaft angulates laterally (bent to
outside) and radial head dislocates to the side.
• IV - Combined type (5%) - ulna shaft and radial shaft are both
fractured and radial head is dislocated, typically anteriorly

Ulnar fracture: Hume fracture
The Hume fracture is an injury of
the elbow comprising a fracture of
the olecranon with an
associated anterior dislocation of
the radial head which occurs
in children.
Cause:
- usually results in comminuted
fracture
- fall onto outstretched upper
extremity
- usually results in transverse or
oblique fracture Hyperextension of
the elbow

Treatment
• Tension band technique
Surgical
- Intramedullary fixation
- Plate and screw fixator
- excision and triceps advancement

Complications
• Stiffness
• Heterotopic ossification
• Posttraumatic arthritis
• Nonunion
• Anterior interosseous nerve injury
• Loss of extension strength

Distal Radius fracture
• A distal radius fracture almost always occurs
about 1 inch from the end of the bone. The break
can occur in many different ways, however.
Other ways the distal radius can break include:
• Intra-articular fracture. A fracture that extends into
the wrist joint. ("Articular" means "joint.")
• Extra-articular fracture. A fracture that does not
extend into the joint is called an extra-articular
fracture.
• Open fracture. When a fractured bone breaks the
skin, it is called an open fracture. These types of
fractures require immediate medical attention
because of the risk for infection.
• Comminuted fracture. When a bone is broken into
more than two pieces, it is called a comminuted
fracture.

Cause:
The most common cause of a
distal radius fracture is a fall
onto an outstretched arm.
S/Sx:
• A broken wrist usually causes
immediate pain, tenderness,
bruising, and swelling. In many
cases, the wrist hangs in an
odd or bent way (deformity).
Non-Surgical Tx:
- Plaster cast
- Reduction
- Splint
Surgical:
A plate and screws hold the
broken fragments in position
while they heal.
External fixator

Reduction of Distal Radius fracture

Distal Radius fracture: Colles fracture
• The term has come to mean a fracture within 1 inch of the distal end
of the radius and is one of the commonest fractures of middle and old
age.
• The fracture may be
comminuted as the bone is
frequently osteoporotic.
The styloid process of the
ulna is often avulsed.

Complications:
• Median nerve
compression
• Malunion
• Rapture of tendon
Treatment:
- Reduction
Surgical Tx:
- Plates, screws,
pins, external fixator

Distal Radius fracture: Smith’s fracture
• This is a fracture of the lower end of
the radius with palmar angulation.
Cause:
It is caused by a direct blow to the dorsal
forearm
Tx:
Treatment Smith’s fracture is usually
treated by open reduction and internal
fixation with a plate applied to the palmar
aspect of the radius.

Distal Radius fracture: Galleazi
• is a fracture of the distal
third of the radius with
dislocation of the distal
radioulnar joint.
• the injury disrupts the
forearm axis joint.
• Cause:
a fall that causes an axial
load to be placed on a
hyperpronated forearm.

S/Sx
• Pain and soft-tissue swelling
are present at the distal-
third radial fracture site and
at the wrist joint
• AIN palsy
• Wrist drop
Treatment
• Galeazzi fractures are best treated
with open reduction of the radius and
the distal radio-ulnar joint.

Distal Radius fracture: Barton’s fracture
• is an intra-articular fracture of the distal
radius with dislocation of the radiocarpal
joint.
Cause:
- fall on an extended and pronated wrist
increasing carpal compression force on
the dorsal rim.
Two types: volar and dorsal (based on
direction of dislocation)

Complications
• Malunion however is a common
complication and is related to
radial shortening, angulation
and incongruity of the articular
surface.
• OA
Tx:
Closed reduction
Kirschner wire
External fixator
Fracture treated with closed reduction, k
wire and external fixator

Radial fracture: Essex-Lopresti fracture
• is a fracture of the radial head with
concomitant dislocation of the distal
radio-ulnar joint and disruption of
the interosseous membrane.
Cause
• This fracture occurs in patients who
have fallen from a height.

Treatment
• Open reducation and internal
fixation
• Radial head implant
Complication:
Delayed treatment of the radial head
fracture will also lead to proximal
migration of the radius

Elbowfracture• Elbow fractures are common
childhood injuries, accounting for
about 10% of all childhood
fractures.
Types of elbow fracture
Above the elbow (supracondylar) -
In this type of fracture, the upper
arm bone (humerus) breaks
slightly above the elbow.
At the elbow knob (condylar) -
This type of fracture occurs
through one of the bony knobs
(condyles) at the end of the upper
arm bone.
• At the inside of the elbow tip
(epicondylar) - Fractures at this
point usually occur on the inside,
or medial, epicondyle in children
from 9 to14 years of age.
• Growth plate (physis) - The upper
arm bone and both forearm
bones have areas of cartilage
called growth plates located near
the end of the bone.

Causes:
• A fall on an outstretched arm
• A fall directly on the elbow
• A direct blow to the elbow
S/Sx
• Swelling and pain
• Numbness in the hand, a
sign of potential nerve injury
• Inability to straighten the arm
Non-surgical Tx
- Cast
- Splint
Surgical
- Closed reduction and percutaneous pinning
- Open reduction and internal fixation.
This x-ray shows a
supracondylar humerus
fracture that has been put
into the correct position and
held in place with two pins.
The pins will be removed
after healing has begun.

DislocationofElbow
• This is usually produced by a fall on the hand
with the elbow partially flexed.
Clinical features:
The elbow is swollen and held in a flexed
position. The ulna is displaced backwards on
the lower end of the humerus. The radial head
may be fractured, as may the coronoid
process.
Complications:
Median nerve palsy occasionally occurs, but
the prognosis for recovery is good. Brachial
artery damage is rare.

Treatment
• Reduction
• The elbow is then initially
immobilized in a simple sling or
collar and cuff

Humeral Fracture
• A humerus fracture is an injury to the bone of
the upper arm that connects the shoulder to
the elbow.
Humerus fractures are generally divided
into three types of injuries based on the
location of the fracture.
Cause:
• Humerus fractures can occur by many
different injuries but are most commonly
caused by falls.
• Automobile accidents

Treatment
Non-surgical
- Sling
- Brace
- Surgery may be required
when the bone fragments
are far out of position.
Complications
- Nonunion
- Malunion
- Nerve Injury
- Shoulder or elbow stiffness

ProximalHumerusfracture
• Proximal humerus fractures occur near
the shoulder joint.
• These fractures may involve the
insertion of the important rotator cuff
tendons.
• Because these tendons are important
to shoulder motion, treatment may
depend on the position of these tendon
insertions.

Mid-shaftHumerusfracture
• Mid-shaft humerus fractures occur away from the
shoulder and elbow joints.
• Most humeral shaft fractures will heal without
surgery, but there are some situations that
require surgical intervention.
• These injuries are commonly associated with
injury to one of the large nerves in the arm, called
the radial nerve. Injury to this nerve may cause
symptoms in the wrist and hand.

DistalHumerusfracture
• Distal humerus fractures are uncommon injuries
in adults. These fractures occur near the elbow
joint.
• These fractures most often require surgical
treatment unless the bones are held in proper
position.
• This type of fracture is much more common in
children, but the treatment is very different in this
age group.

Humeral Fracture: Fracture of Humeral neck
• These fractures are often classifi ed as
abduction or adduction types, depending on
the relative positions of the proximal and
distal fragments.
• They are often comminuted, with the greater
tuberosity forming a separate fragment.
Stable fractures are impacted and may be
safely mobilized early.
Non - impacted fractures may be
considerably displaced and can be
associated with damage to the brachial
plexus or axillary artery.

Treatment:
• In this group of patients a broad sling is used to support the arm
initially, but mobilization is encouraged as soon as possible.

Holstein–Lewis fracture
• is a fracture of the distal third
of the humerus resulting
in entrapment of the radial
nerve
Treatment:
- Cast
- Plate fixation of humerus
Complication:
Radial nerve palsy

Clavicularfracture
• also known as a broken collarbone, is a
bone fracture of the clavicle.
Cause:
It is often caused by a fall onto a shoulder,
outstretched arm, or direct trauma.
Complications:
• Include a collection of air in the pleural
space surrounding the lung (pneumothorax),
injury to the nerves or blood vessels in the
area, and an unpleasant appearance

Signs and symptoms
• Pain and Swelling
• Sharp pain when any
movement is made
• Referred pain: dull to extreme
ache in and around clavicle
area, including surrounding
muscles
• Possible nausea, dizziness,
and/or spotty vision due to
extreme pain
Non surgical Tx:
- Figure of 8 splint
- sling

Fracture of the Scapula
• A scapular fracture is a fracture of
the scapula, the shoulder blade.
Cause:
This could be anywhere from a car accident,
motorcycle crash, or high speed bicycle crash
but falls and blows to the area can also be
responsible for the injury.
S/Sx:
Signs and symptoms are similar to those of
other fractures: they include pain, tenderness,
and reduced motion of the affected area
although symptoms can take a couple of days
to appear.

Treatment
• Treatment involves pain
medication and immobilization at
first; later, physical therapy is
used.
• Ice over the affected area may
increase comfort.
• Movement exercises are begun
within at least a week of the
injury; with these, fractures with
little or no displacement heal
without problems.
• Over 90% of scapular fractures
are not significantly displaced;
therefore, most of these fractures
are best managed without
surgery

Classification
• Described based upon anatomic location
Coracoid process
fractures
Type 1 Fracture
proximal to
the coracoclavi
cular ligament
Type 2 Fracture distal
to
the coracoclavi
cular ligament

Acromion fractures
Type 1 Non- or minimally-displaced
Type 2 Displaced but not affecting the
subacromial space
Type 3 Displacement compromising the
subacromial space

Acromioclavicular fracture
• The distal clavicle and acromion
process can also be fractured. Injury
to the acromioclavicular joint may
injure the cartilage within the joint
and can later cause arthritis of the
acromioclavicular joint.
Cause:
Acromioclavicular joint injuries are
often seen after bicycle wrecks,
contact sports, and car accidents.

Pathophysiology
• The most common mechanism for an
acromioclavicular joint injury is a fall directly
onto the acromion, with the arm adducted up
against the body.
• When a person falls onto their shoulder, the
force pushes the tip of the shoulder down.
The clavicle is usually kept in its anatomic
position, whereas the shoulder is driven
down, which injures the different ligaments or
causes a fracture.
• A fall onto an outstretched hand (FOOSH
injury) and a downward force on the upper
extremity have also been implicated in
acromioclavicular joint injuries.

ShoulderDislocations
• Anterior dislocations of the
shoulder are caused by the
arm being forcefully twisted
outward (external rotation)
when the arm is above the
level of the shoulder. These
injuries can occur from
many different causes,
including a fall or a direct
blow to the shoulder.

• Posterior dislocations of the
shoulder are much less common
than anterior dislocations of the
shoulder. Posterior dislocations
often occur from seizures or
electric shocks when the
muscles of the front of the
shoulder contract and forcefully
tighten.

LOWER EXTREMITY
FRACTURE & DISLOCATION

DEFINITION
• is a break in the upper quarter of the femur (thigh) bone. The extent
of the break depends on the forces that are involved. The type of
surgery used to treat a hip fracture is primarily based on the bones
and soft tissues affected or on the level of the fracture.

CAUSES
• Hip fractures most commonly occur from a fall or from a direct blow
to the side of the hip.
• Some medical conditions such as osteoporosis, cancer, or stress
injuries can weaken the bone and make the hip more susceptible to
breaking. In severe cases, it is possible for the hip to break with the
patient merely standing on the leg and twisting.

SYMPTOMS
• Pain over the outer upper thigh or in the groin.
• Significant discomfort with any attempt to flex or rotate the hip.
• If the bone has been weakened by disease, the patient may notice
aching in the groin or thigh area for a period of time before the break.
• If the bone is completely broken, the leg may appear to be shorter
than the non-injured leg.
• Patient will often hold the injured leg in a still position with the foot
and knee turned outward (external rotation).

DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES
• X-ray
• MRI
• CT SCAN

TYPES OF HIP FRACTURES
1. Intracapsular Fracture:
oOccur at the level of the neck and
the head of the femur, and is
generally within the capsule.

2. Intertrochanteric Fracture:
o Occurs between the neck of the
femur and a lower bony
prominence called the lesser
trochanter.
o Intertrochanteric fractures
generally cross in the area
between the lesser trochanter
and the greater trochanter.

3. Subtrochanteric Fracture:
o This fracture occurs below the
lesser trochanter, in a region
that is between the lesser
trochanter and an area
approximately 2 1/2 inches
below .
o In more complicated cases, the
amount of breakage of the
bone can involve more than
one of these zones. This is
taken into consideration when
surgical repair is considered.

TREATMENT
• CONSIDERATIONS:
• In very rare cases, If patient is very ill then surgery would not be
recommended. In these cases, the patient's overall comfort and level of pain
must be weighed against the risks of anesthesia and surgery.
• Most surgeons agree that patients do better if they are operated on fairly
quickly. It is, however, important to insure patients' safety and maximize their
overall medical health before surgery. This may mean taking time to do
cardiac and other diagnostic studies.

TREATMENT
• NONSURGICAL TREATMENT:
• Activity Modification
• Electronic and Ultrasonic Bone Stimulation
• Physical Therapy
• Pain Medications
• Avoiding Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs

TREATMENT
• SURGICAL TREATMENT:
• Before Surgery
• Anesthesia for surgery could be either general anesthesia with a breathing tube or spinal
anesthesia. In very rare circumstances, where only a few screws are planned for fixation,
local anesthesia with heavy sedation can be considered. All patients will receive
antibiotics during surgery and for the 24-hours afterward.
• Appropriate blood tests, chest X-rays, electrocardiograms, and urine samples will be
obtained before surgery. Many elderly patients may have undiagnosed urinary tract
infections that could lead to an infection of the hip after surgery.

TREATMENT
1. Intracapsular Fracture:
o If the head of the femur ("ball") alone is broken, management will be aimed
at fixing the cartilage on the ball that has been injured or displaced.
Frequently with these injuries, the socket, or acetabulum, may also be
broken. The surgeon will need to take this into consideration as well.
o These injuries may be approached either from the front or back of the hip.
In some cases, both approaches are required in order to clearly see and fix
the injured bone.
o For true intracapsular hip fractures, the surgeon may decide either to fix the
fracture with individual screws (percutaneous pinning) or a single larger
screw that slides within the barrel of a plate. This compression hip screw will
allow the fracture to become more stable by having the broken area impact
on itself. Occasionally, a secondary screw may be added for stability.

Repair of an intracapsular
fracture with individual screws.
Repair of an intercapsular fracture
with a single compression hip screw

TREATMENT
oIf the intracapsular hip fracture is displaced in a younger patient, a
surgical attempt will be made to reduce or realign the fracture
through a larger incision. The fracture will be held together with
either individual screws or with the larger compression hip screw.
oIn these cases, the blood supply to the ball, or head of the femur, may
have been damaged at the time of injury (avascular necrosis). Even
though the fracture is realigned and fixed into place, the cartilage and
underlying supporting bone may not receive adequate blood. Over a
period of time, this may cause the femoral head to flatten out. When
this occurs, the joint surface becomes irregular. Ultimately, the hip
joint may develop a painful arthritis, despite the surgical repair.

Although the fracture is
repaired, the blood supply to the
"ball" of the femur is damaged.

TREATMENT
oIn the older patient, the chance that the head of the femur is
damaged in this way is higher. It is generally felt that for these
displaced fractures, patients will do better if some of the components
of the hip are replaced. In some cases, this can mean a replacement
of the ball, or head of the femur (hemiarthroplasty). In other cases,
this can mean the replacement of both the ball and socket, or head of
the femur and acetabulum (total hip replacement).

Hemiarthroplasty is a type of hip
replacement in which only the
"ball" of the hip is replaced.
A total hip replacement
replaces both the hip
socket and ball.

TREATMENT
2. Intertrochanteric Fracture:
o Most intertrochanteric fractures are managed with either a compression hip screw
or an intramedullary nail, which also allows for impaction at the fracture site.
o The compression hip screw is fixed to the outer side of the bone with bone screws
and has a large secondary screw (lag screw) that is placed through the plate into
the neck and head of the hip. The design of the device allows for impaction and
compression at the fracture site. This may increase the stability of the area and
promote healing.
o The intramedullary nail is placed directly into the marrow canal of the bone
through an opening made at the top of the greater trochanter. A lag screw is then
placed through the nail and up into the neck and head of the hip. As with the
compression hip screw, sliding of the lag screw and impaction of the fracture take
place.

Repair of an intertrochanteric
fracture with an intramedullary nail.
The nail is in the hollow cavity of the
femur (thighbone) rather than on the
side of it (as with a plate).

TREATMENT
3. Subtrochanteric Fracture:
oAt the subtrochanteric level, most fractures are managed with a long
intramedullary nail together with a large lag screw or they are managed with
screws that capture the neck and head of the femur or the area immediately
underneath it, if it has remained intact.

Repair of subtrochanteric fracture
with a long intramedullary nail.
Interlocking screws at the end of the
nail make the fixation more secure.

TREATMENT
oIn order to keep the bones from rotating around the nail or from
shortening ("telescoping") on the nail, additional screws may be
placed at the lower end of the nail in the area of the knee. These are
called interlocking screws.
oIn certain cases, the surgeon may choose to use a plate rather than a
nail. The plate will have screws that go into the bone from the lateral,
or outer, side of the femur. A single large screw goes into the neck
and the head of the femur and appears similar to the compression hip
screw, but at a different angle. Secondary screws are then placed
through the plate into the bone to hold the fracture in place.

A locking plate may be used for more
difficult to treat fractures.

DEFINITION
• Occurs when the head of the thighbone (femur) is forced out of its
socket in the hip bone (pelvis).
• It typically takes a major force to dislocate the hip. Car collisions and
falls from significant heights are common causes and as a result,
other injuries like broken bones often occur with the dislocation.
• A hip dislocation is a serious medical emergency. Immediate
treatment is necessary.

DESCRIPTION
• POSTERIOR DISLOCATION:
• In approximately 90% of hip dislocation patients, the thighbone is pushed out
of the socket in a backwards direction. This is called a posterior dislocation.
• A posterior dislocation leaves the lower leg in a fixed position, with the knee
and foot rotated in toward the middle of the body.

DESCRIPTION
• ANTERIOR DISLOCATION:
• When the thighbone slips out of its socket in a forward direction, the hip will
be bent only slightly, and the leg will rotate out and away from the middle of
the body.
• When the hip dislocates, the ligaments, labrum, muscles, and other
soft tissues holding the bones in place are often damaged, as well.
The nerves around the hip may also be injured.

SYMPTOMS
• Very painful
• Unable to move the leg
• If there is nerve damage, may not have any feeling in the foot or ankle
area.

CAUSE
• Motor vehicle collisions are the most common cause of hip dislocations. The dislocation
often occurs when the knee hits the dashboard in a collision. This force drives the thigh
backwards, which drives the ball head of the femur out of the hip socket.
• A fall from a significant height (such as from a ladder) or an industrial accident can also
generate enough force to dislocate a hip.
• With hip dislocations, there are often other related injuries, such as fractures in the
pelvis and legs, and back, abdominal, knee, and head injuries.
• Perhaps the most common fracture occurs when the head of the femur hits and breaks
off the back part of the hip socket during the injury. This is called a posterior wall
acetabular fracture-dislocation.

• X-ray

TREATMENT
• REDUCTION PROCEDURES:
• If there are no other injuries, the doctor will administer an anesthetic or a
sedative and manipulate the bones back into their proper position. This is
called a reduction.
• In some cases, the reduction must be done in the operating room with
anesthesia. In rare cases, torn soft tissues or small bony fragments block the
bone from going back into the socket. When this occurs, surgery is required to
remove the loose tissues and correctly position the bones.
• Following reduction, the surgeon will request another set of x-rays and
possibly a computed tomography (CT) scan to make sure that the bones are in
the proper position.

(Left) This x-ray, taken from the front, shows a patient with a posterior dislocation
of the left hip. (Right) Normal alignment after the hip has been reduced.

COMPLICATIONS
• A hip dislocation can have long-term consequences, particularly if
there are associated fractures.
• Nerve injury – As the thighbone is pushed out of the socket,
particularly in posterior dislocations, it can crush and stretch nerves in
the hip. The sciatic nerve, which extends from the lower back down
the back of the legs, is the nerve most commonly affected. Injury to
the sciatic nerve may cause weakness in the lower leg and affect the
ability to move the knee, ankle and foot normally. Sciatic nerve injury
occurs in approximately 10% of hip dislocation patients. The majority
of these patients will experience some nerve recovery.

COMPLICATIONS
• Osteonecrosis – As the thighbone is pushed out of the socket, it can
tear blood vessels and nerves. When blood supply to the bone is lost,
the bone can die, resulting in osteonecrosis (also called avascular
necrosis). This is a painful condition that can ultimately lead to the
destruction of the hip joint and arthritis.
• Arthritis – The protective cartilage covering the bone may also be
damaged, which increases the risk of developing arthritis in the joint.
Arthritis can eventually lead to the need for other procedures, like a
total hip replacement.

DEFINITION
• Femur (Thighbone) is the longest and strongest bone in the body.
Because the femur is so strong, it usually takes a lot of force to break
it. Motor vehicle collisions, for example, are the number one cause of
femur fractures.
• The long, straight part of the femur is called the femoral shaft. When
there is a break anywhere along this length of bone, it is called a
femoral shaft fracture. This type of broken leg almost always requires
surgery to heal.

TYPES OF FEMORAL SHAFT FRACTURES
• Fractures are describe using a classification systems. Femur fractures
are classified depending on:
• The location of the fracture
• The pattern of the fracture
• Whether the skin and muscle over the bone is torn by the injury

TYPES OF FEMORAL SHAFT FRACTURES
• The most common types of femoral shaft fractures include:
• Transverse fracture: the break is a straight horizontal line going across the femoral
shaft.
• Oblique fracture: This type of fracture has an angled line across the shaft.
• Spiral fracture: The fracture line encircles the shaft like the stripes on a candy cane.
A twisting force to the thigh causes this type of fracture.
• Comminuted fracture: the bone has broken into three or more pieces. In most cases,
the number of bone fragments corresponds with the amount of force needed to
break the bone.
• Open (Compound) fracture: If a bone breaks in such a way that bone fragments stick
out through the skin or a wound penetrates down to the broken bone. Open
fractures often involve much more damage to the surrounding muscles, tendons,
and ligaments. They have a higher risk for complications—especially infections—and
take a longer time to heal.

(Left) An oblique fracture has an angled line
across the shaft. (Right) A comminuted fracture
is broken into three or more pieces.

CAUSE
• Femoral shaft fractures in young people are frequently due to some
type of high-energy collision. The most common cause of femoral
shaft fracture is a motor vehicle or motorcycle crash.
• Being hit by a car while walking is another common cause, as are falls
from heights and gunshot wounds.
• A lower-force incident, such as a fall from standing, may cause a
femoral shaft fracture in an older person who has weaker bones.

SYMPTOMS
• Immediate, severe pain
• Unable to put weight on the injured leg,
• May look deformed—shorter than the other leg and no longer
straight.

• Medical History and Physical Examination
• Assessment:
• Visual Inspection: An obvious deformity of the thigh/leg (an unusual angle,
twisting, or shortening of the leg), Breaks in the skin, Bruises, and Bony pieces
that may be pushing on the skin.
• Palpation
• STD
• ROM
• X-ray
• CT SCAN

TREATMENT
• Cast (For very young children)
• But most femoral shaft fractures require surgery to heal. It is unusual for
femoral shaft fractures to be treated without surgery.

TREATMENT
• Timing of Surgery
• Most femur fractures are fixed within 24 to 48 hours. On occasion, fixation will be
delayed until other life-threatening injuries or unstable medical conditions are stabilized.
To reduce the risk of infection, open fractures are treated with antibiotics as soon as you
arrive at the hospital. The open wound, tissues, and bone will be cleaned during surgery.
• For the time between initial emergency care and your surgery, your doctor may place
your leg either in a long-leg splint or in traction. This is to keep your broken bones as
aligned as possible and to maintain the length of your leg.
• Skeletal traction is a pulley system of weights and counterweights that holds the broken
pieces of bone together. It keeps your leg straight and often helps to relieve pain.

TREATMENT
1. External Fixation:
o In this type of operation, metal pins or screws are placed into the bone
above and below the fracture site. The pins and screws are attached to a
bar outside the skin. This device is a stabilizing frame that holds the bones
in the proper position.
o External fixation is usually a temporary treatment for femur fractures.
Because they are easily applied, external fixators are often put on when a
patient has multiple injuries and is not yet ready for a longer surgery to fix
the fracture. An external fixator provides good, temporary stability until the
patient is healthy enough for the final surgery. In some cases, an external
fixator is left on until the femur is fully healed, but this is not common.

External fixation is often used to hold the
bones together temporarily when the
skin and muscles have been injured.

TREATMENT
2. Intramedullary Nailing:
o Currently, the method most surgeons use for treating femoral shaft fractures
is intramedullary nailing.
oDuring this procedure, a specially designed metal rod is inserted into the
canal of the femur. The rod passes across the fracture to keep it in position.
oAn intramedullary nail can be inserted into the canal either at the hip or the
knee. Screws are placed above and below the fracture to hold the leg in
correct alignment while the bone heals.
oIntramedullary nails are usually made of titanium. They come in various
lengths and diameters to fit most femur bones.

(Left) a transverse fracture of the femur. (Right)
femoral shaft fracture that has been treated
with intramedullary nailing.

TREATMENT
3. Plates and Screws:
• During this operation, the bone fragments are first repositioned (reduced)
into their normal alignment. They are held together with screws and metal
plates attached to the outer surface of the bone.
• Plates and screws are often used when intramedullary nailing may not be
possible, such as for fractures that extend into either the hip or knee joints.

COMPLICATIONS
• Complications from Femoral Shaft Fractures:
• The ends of broken bones are often sharp and can cut or tear surrounding blood vessels or nerves, though
this is very rare.
• Acute compartment syndrome may develop. This is a painful condition that occurs when pressure within the
muscles builds to dangerous levels. This pressure can decrease blood flow, which prevents nourishment and
oxygen from reaching nerve and muscle cells. Unless the pressure is relieved quickly, permanent disability
may result. This is a surgical emergency. During the procedure, your surgeon makes incisions in your skin and
the muscle coverings to relieve the pressure.
• Open fractures expose the bone to the outside environment. Even with good surgical cleaning of the bone
and muscle, the bone can become infected. Bone infection is difficult to treat and often requires multiple
surgeries and long-term antibiotics.
• Occasionally, the ligaments around the knee can be injured during a femoral shaft fracture. If you have knee
pain after surgery, tell your doctor.

COMPLICATIONS
• Complications from Surgery:
• Blood loss
• Problems with anesthesia
• Infection
• Injury to nerves and blood vessels
• Blood clots
• Fat embolism
• Misalignment or the inability to correctly position the broken bone fragments
• Delayed union or nonunion
• Hardware irritation

DEFINITION
• Fractures of the thighbone that occur just above the knee joint are called
distal femur fractures. The distal femur is where the bone flares out like an
upside-down funnel.
• Distal femur fractures most often occur either in older people whose bones
are weak, or in younger people who have high energy injuries, such as from
a car crash.
• In both the elderly and the young, the breaks may extend into the knee
joint and may shatter the bone into many pieces.

DESCRIPTION
• Distal femur fractures vary. The bone can break straight across (transverse
fracture) or into many pieces (comminuted fracture).
• Sometimes these fractures extend into the knee joint and separate the
surface of the bone into a few (or many) parts. These types of fractures are
called intra-articular. Because they damage the cartilage surface of the
bone, intra-articular fractures can be more difficult to treat.

(Left) A transverse fracture across the distal femur. (Center) An intra-articular fracture
that extends into the knee joint. (Right) A comminuted fracture that extends into the
knee joint and upwards into the femoral shaft

DESCRIPTION
• Distal femur fractures can be closed — meaning the skin is intact — or
can be open.
• When the distal femur breaks, both the hamstrings and quadriceps
muscles tend to contract and shorten. When this happens the bone
fragments change position and become difficult to line up with a cast.

The muscles at the front and back of
the thigh have shortened and pulled
the broken pieces of bone out of
alignment.

CAUSE
• Fractures of the distal femur most commonly occur in two patient types: younger people (under
age 50) and the elderly.
• Distal femur fractures in younger patients are usually caused by high energy injuries, such as falls
from significant heights or motor vehicle collisions. Because of the forceful nature of these
fractures, many patients also have other injuries, often of the head, chest, abdomen, pelvis,
spine, and other limbs.
• Elderly people with distal femur fractures typically have poor bone quality. As we age, our bones
get thinner. Bones can become very weak and fragile. A lower-force event, such as a fall from
standing, can cause a distal femur fracture in an older person who has weak bones. Although
these patients do not often have other injuries, they may have concerning medical problems,
such as conditions of the heart, lungs, and kidneys, and diabetes.

SYMPTOMS
• The most common symptoms of distal femur fracture include:
• Pain with weight bearing
• Swelling and bruising
• Tenderness to touch
• Deformity: the knee may look "out of place" and the leg may appear shorter and
crooked
• In most cases, these symptoms occur around the knee, but you may also
have symptoms in the thigh area.

DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURE
• X-ray
• CT SCAN

TREATMENT
• Skeletal traction
• Casting and bracing
• Patients with distal femoral fractures of all ages do best when they can be
up and moving soon after treatment (such as moving from a bed to a chair,
and walking). Early motion of the knee lessens the risk of knee stiffness,
and prevents problems caused by extended bed rest, such as bed sores and
blood clots.

TREATMENT
• Timing of Surgery
• Most distal femur fractures are not operated on right away — unless the skin around the
fracture has been broken (open fracture)
• In most cases, surgery is delayed 1 to 3 days to develop a treatment plan and to prepare
the patient for surgery.

TREATMENT
1. External Fixation:
ometal pins or screws are placed into the middle of the femur and tibia
(shinbone). The pins and screws are attached to a bar outside the skin. This
device is a stabilizing frame that holds the bones in the proper position until
you are ready for surgery.

An external fixator is used to stabilize the fracture
before surgery.

TREATMENT
2. Internal Fixation:
o Methods most surgeons use for distal femur fractures include:
• Intramedullary Nailing – a specially designed metal rod is inserted into the marrow canal of the femur.
The rod passes across the fracture to keep it in position.
• Plates and screws – the bone fragments are first repositioned (reduced) into their normal alignment.
They are held together with special screws and metal plates attached to the outer surface of the bone.
o Both of these methods can be done through one large incision or several smaller ones,
depending on the type of fracture you have and the device your surgeon uses.

TREATMENT
• If the fracture is in many small pieces above your knee joint, your
surgeon will not try to piece the bone back together like a puzzle.
• Instead, your surgeon will fix a plate or rod at both ends of the
fracture without touching the many small pieces. This will keep the
overall shape and length of the bone correct while it heals. The
individual pieces will then fill in with new bone, called a callous.

Healed fractures treated with a
plate (left) and a rod (right).
When the femur breaks into several
pieces, new bone will grow and fill in
gaps during the healing process.

TREATMENT
• In cases where a fracture may be slow to heal, such as when a patient is elderly
with poor bone quality, a bone graft may be used to help the callous develop.
Bone grafts may be obtained from the patient (most often taken from the pelvis)
or from a tissue bank (cadaver bone). Other options include the use of artificial
bone fillers.
• In extreme cases, a fracture may be too complicated and the bone quality too
poor to fix. These types of fractures are often treated by removing the fragments
and replacing the bone with a knee replacement implant.

TREATMENT
3. Fractures and knee replacements
These x-rays taken from the front (left)
and the side (right) show a fracture
near an artificial knee joint.

TREATMENT
• Those fractures are typically treated with rods or plates, just like
other distal femur fractures. In rare cases, the artificial implant must
be removed and replaced with a larger implant. This procedure is
called a revision and may be necessary if the implant is loose or not
supported by surrounding good bone.

Fractures near knee implants may be treated with
plates, rods, or with a revision surgery.

TREATMENT
• SURGICAL COMPLICATIONS :
• to prevent infection, intravenous antibiotics will be given before the procedure.
Because blood clots in leg veins may develop after surgery, the doctor may also give
blood thinners.
• There will be blood loss during your surgery. How much blood is lost will depend
upon the severity of your fracture and the procedure used to treat it. Your doctor will
assess your blood level during the operation and, if low, will determine whether it is
in your best interest to have a blood transfusion.

COMPLICATIONS
• INFECTIONS:
• Newer techniques in treating difficult fractures have cut the infection rate by more
than a half: Currently less than 5% of patients have infections. If you have surgery,
your doctor will give you antibiotics to help prevent infection.
• Open fractures (those with tears in the skin) and high energy fractures (such as car
accidents) are at higher risk for infection. If the infection is deep, it may involve the
bone and the device used to fix the bone.
• A bone infection can require long-term, intravenous antibiotic treatment, as well as
several surgeries to clean out the infection.

COMPLICATIONS
• STIFFNESS:
• Some knee stiffness is expected after a distal femur fracture. Moving your knee soon
after surgery is the best way to prevent stiffness.
• BONE HEALING PROBLEMS:
• In some cases, bone healing can be slow or not happen at all. If a follow-up x-ray
shows rods, plates, and screws breaking or pulling out of the bone, it may be a sign
that the bone is not healing. This can happen even if your fracture has been fixed
well and you have followed your doctor's guidelines.

COMPLICATIONS
• Open fractures and high energy fractures are most at risk for not healing.
These challenging fractures are also most at risk for infection, and infection
can cause bone healing problems.
• To help the fracture heal, your doctor may suggest applying a bone graft to
the fracture, and changing or adding to how it was fixed (plates, screws, rods).

COMPLICATIONS
• KNEE ARTHRITIS:
• Distal femur fractures that enter the knee joint may heal with a defect in the normally
smooth surface of the joint.
• Because the knee is the largest weight bearing joint in the body, any defect can damage the
protective articular cartilage and, over time, result in arthritis. In some cases, the joint
surface may wear down to bare bone.
• Arthritis caused by fracture or injury is called post-traumatic arthritis. It can be treated like
other forms of osteoarthritis — with physical therapy, braces, medications, and lifestyle
changes.
• In cases of severe arthritis that limits activity, a total knee replacement may be the best
option to relieve symptoms.

KNEE DISLOCATION
• Knee dislocations are ligamentous disruptions with loss of continuity of
tibiofemoral articulation.
• A combination of tears of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), posterior
cruciate ligament (PCL), medial collateral ligament (MCL), lateral collateral
ligament (LCL), and other stabilizing structures are typical of knee
dislocations.
• The vast majority of knee dislocations involve disruption of both the ACL
and PCL.

KNEE DISLOCATION
• Anterior displacement is considered the most common type of knee dislocation.
• The least common type is the posterolateral dislocation.
• They most commonly occur from high-energy mechanisms (motor-vehicle
wrecks, industrial accidents), but they can also occur from low-energy trauma
(sporting activities and minor falls).
• In the absence of vascular and open injuries, treatment options include
nonsurgical and surgical management options.

DEFINITION
• Patellar fracture is a break in the patella, or kneecap, the small bone that sits at the front
of your knee.
• Because the patella acts as a shield for your knee joint, it is vulnerable to fracture if you
fall directly onto your knee or hit it against the dashboard in a vehicle collision.
• A patellar fracture is a serious injury that can make it difficult or even impossible to
straighten your knee or walk.
• Some simple patellar fractures can be treated by wearing a cast or splint until the bone
heals.
• In most patellar fractures, however, the pieces of bone move out of place when the
injury occurs. For these more complicated fractures, surgery is needed to restore and
stabilize the kneecap and allow for the return of function.

DESCRIPTION
• The patella can fracture in many ways. A fracture may be a simple,
clean, two-piece break or the bone can break into many pieces.
• A break can occur at the top, center, or lower part of the bone.
Sometimes, fractures occur in more than one area of the kneecap.

This x-ray of a knee taken from the
side shows a patella that has been
fractured in three places.

TYPES OF PATELLAR FRACTURES
• STABLE FRACTURE:
• This type of fracture is
nondisplaced. The pieces of bone
may remain in contact with each
other or be separated by just a
millimeter or two.
• In a stable fracture, the bones
usually stay in place during
healing.

• DISPLACED FRACTURE:
• the broken ends of the bone are
separated and do not line up
correctly. The normally smooth
joint surface may also be
disrupted.
• This type of fracture often
requires surgery to put the pieces
of bone back together.

• COMMINUTED FRACTURE:
• the bone shatters into three or
more pieces. Depending on the
specific pattern of the fracture, a
comminuted fracture may be
either stable or unstable.

• OPEN FRACTURE:
• the bone breaks in such a way that bone fragments stick out through the skin
or a wound penetrates down to the bone.
• An open fracture often involves damage to the surrounding soft tissues and
may take a longer time to heal.

CAUSE
• Patellar fractures are most often caused by:
• Falling directly onto the knee
• Receiving a sharp blow to the knee, such as might occur during a head-on
vehicle collision if your kneecap is driven into the dashboard
• The patella can also be fractured indirectly. For example, a sudden
contraction of the quadriceps muscle in the knee can pull apart the
patella.

SYMPTOMS
• The most common symptoms of a patellar fracture are:
• pain and swelling in the front of the knee.
• Other symptoms may include:
• Bruising
• Inability to straighten the knee or keep it extended in a straight leg raise
• Inability to walk

• Physical Examination
• X- Ray

TREATMENT
• If the pieces of bone are not out of place (displaced), cast or splint may be
apply to keep your knee straight and help prevent motion in your leg. This will
keep the broken ends of bone in proper position while they heal.
• Depending upon the specific fracture, weight bearing on the leg may be
allowed while wearing a cast or brace. With some fractures, however, weight
bearing is not allowed for 6 to 8 weeks.

TREATMENT
• Fractured patellar bones that are not close together often have difficulty
healing or may not heal. The thigh muscles that attach to the top of the
patella are very strong and can pull the broken pieces out of place during
healing.
• Surgical Procedures – the type of procedure performed often depends on the
type of fracture you have.

TREATMENT
1. TRANSVERSE FRACTURE :
o These two-part fractures are most often
fixed in place using screws or pins and
wires and a "figure-of-eight"
configuration tension band. The figure-of-
eight band presses the two pieces
together.
o This procedure is best for treating fractures
that are located near the center of the
patella because pieces at the ends of the
kneecap are too small for this procedure.
o Another approach is to secure the bones
using small screws or small screws and
small plates.

TREATMENT
2. COMMINUTED FRACTURE:
o In some fractures, the top or bottom (MC) of the patella is broken into
several small pieces.
o This type of fracture occurs when the kneecap is first pulled apart from
the injury, and is then crushed when the patient falls on it. Because the
bone fragments are too small to be fixed back into place, the doctor will
remove them and then attach the loose patellar tendon back to the
remaining patellar bone.
o If the kneecap is broken in many pieces at its center and the pieces are
separated, the doctor may use a combination of wires and screws to fix it.
Removing small portions of the kneecap that cannot be reconstructed may
also have good results.
o Complete removal of the kneecap is a last resort in treating a comminuted
fracture.

COMPLICATIONS OF PATELLAR FRACTURES
• Posttraumatic Arthritis – is a type of arthritis that develops after an injury. Even when
your bones heal normally, the articular cartilage covering the bones can be damaged,
leading to pain and stiffness over time. Severe arthritis occurs in a small percentage of
patients with patellar fractures. Mild to moderate arthritis—a condition
called chondromalacia patella—is much more common.
• Muscle Weakness – Some patients may have permanent weakness of the quadriceps
muscle in the front of the thigh after a fracture. Some loss of motion in the knee,
including both straightening (extension) and bending (flexion), is also common. This loss
of motion is not usually disabling.

COMPLICATIONS OF PATELLAR FRACTURES
• Chronic Pain – Long-term pain in the front of the knee is common
with patellar fractures. While the cause of this pain is not completely
understood, it is likely that it is related to posttraumatic arthritis,
stiffness, and muscle weakness. Some patients find that they are
more comfortable wearing a knee brace or support.

DEFINITION
• The tibia, or shinbone, is the most commonly fractured long bone in the
body.
• A tibial shaft fracture occurs along the length of the bone, below the knee
and above the ankle.
• It typically takes a major force to cause this type of broken leg. Motor
vehicle collisions, for example, are a common cause of tibial shaft fractures.
• In many tibia fractures, the smaller bone in the lower leg (fibula) is broken
as well.

TYPES OF TIBIA & FIBULA FRACTURE
• TRANSVERSE FRACTURE:
• In this type of fracture, the break
is a straight horizontal line going
across the tibial shaft.
• OBLIQUE FRACTURE:
• This type of fracture has an angled
line across the shaft.

TYPES OF TIBIA & FIBULA FRACTURE
• SPIRAL FRACTURE:
• The fracture line encircles the shaft like
the stripes on a candy cane. This type of
fracture is caused by a twisting force.
• COMMINUTED FRACTURE:
• In this type of fracture, the bone breaks
into three or more pieces.
• OPEN FRACTURE:
• If a bone breaks in such a way that bone
fragments stick out through the skin or a
wound penetrates down to the broken
bone.

CAUSE
• Tibial shaft fractures are often caused by some type of high-energy
collision, such as a motor vehicle or motorcycle crash. In cases like these,
the bone can be broken into several pieces (comminuted fracture).
• Sports injuries, such as a fall while skiing or a collision with another player
during soccer, are lower-energy injuries that can cause tibial shaft
fractures. These fractures are typically caused by a twisting force and result
in an oblique or spiral fracture.

SYMPTOMS
• A tibial shaft fracture usually causes immediate, severe pain.
• Inability to walk or bear weight on the leg
• Deformity or instability of the leg
• Bone "tenting" over the skin at the fracture site or bone protruding through a
break in the skin
• Occasional loss of feeling in the foot

TREATMENT
• NONSURGICAL TREATMENT :
• May be recommended for patients who: (1) are poor candidates for surgery due to their
overall health problems; (2) less active, so are better able to tolerate small degrees of
angulation or differences in leg length; (3) have closed fractures with minimal movement of
the fracture ends
• Initial treatment: most injuries cause some swelling for the first few weeks. Your doctor may
initially apply a splint to provide comfort and support. Unlike a full cast, a splint can be
tightened or loosened to allow swelling to occur safely. Once the swelling goes down, your
doctor will consider a range of treatment options.

TREATMENT
• Casting and bracing: may immobilize the fracture in a cast for initial healing.
After several weeks, the cast can be replaced with a functional brace made of
plastic and fasteners. The brace will provide protection and support until
healing is complete. The brace can be taken off for hygiene purposes and for
physical therapy.

TREATMENT
• Surgery may be recommended for certain types of fractures, including: (1)
Open fractures with wounds that need monitorinG; (2) Fractures that have
not healed with nonsurgical treatment; (3) Fractures with many bone
fragments and a large degree of displacement
• Intramedullary nailing
• Plates and screws
• External fixation

COMPLICATIONS
• Complications from Tibial Shaft Fractures:
• The ends of broken bones are often sharp and can cut or tear surrounding muscles, nerves, or blood
vessels.
• Acute compartment syndrome may develop. This is a painful condition that occurs when pressure
within the muscles builds to dangerous levels. This pressure can decrease blood flow, which prevents
nourishment and oxygen from reaching nerve and muscle cells. Unless the pressure is relieved
quickly, permanent disability may result.
• Open fractures expose the bone to the outside environment. Even with good surgical cleaning of the
bone and muscle, the bone can become infected. Bone infection is difficult to treat and often
requires multiple surgeries and long-term antibiotics.
• Complications from Surgery:
• Infection
• Injury to nerves and blood vessels
• Blood clots (these may also occur without surgery)
• Misalignment or the inability to correctly position the broken fragments
• Delayed union or nonunion (when the fracture heals slower than usual or not at all)
• Angulation (with treatment by external fixation)

DEFINITION
• A broken ankle is also known as an ankle "fracture." This means that one or more of the bones
that make up the ankle joint are broken.
• A fractured ankle can range from a simple break in one bone, which may not stop you from
walking, to several fractures which forces your ankle out of place and may require that you not
put weight on it for a few months.
• Simply put, the more bones that are broken, the more unstable the ankle becomes. There may be
ligaments damaged as well. The ligaments of the ankle hold the ankle bones and joint in position.
• Broken ankles affect people of all ages. During the past 30 to 40 years, doctors have noted an
increase in the number and severity of broken ankles, due in part to an active, older population of
"baby boomers."

TYPES OF ANKLE FRACTURE & DISLOCATION
• LATERAL MALLEOLUS
FRACTURE:
• is a fracture of the fibula.
• There are different levels at which
that the fibula can be fractured.
The level of the fracture may
direct the treatment.

• MEDIAL MALLEOLUS FRACTURE:
• is a break in the tibia, at the inside of
the lower leg.
• Fractures can occur at different levels
of the medial malleolus.
• Medial malleoli fractures often occur
with a fracture of the fibula (lateral
malleolus), a fracture of the back of
the tibia (posterior malleolus), or with
an injury to the ankle ligaments.

• POSTERIOR MALLEOLUS FRACTURE:
• is a fracture of the back of the tibia at the level of the ankle joint.
• In most cases of posterior malleolus fracture, the lateral malleolus (fibula) is also broken. This is because it shares ligament
attachments with the posterior malleolus. There can also be a fracture of the medial malleolus.
• Depending on how large the broken piece is, the back of the ankle may be unstable. Some studies have shown that if the
piece is bigger than 25% of the ankle joint, the ankle becomes unstable and should be treated with surgery.
• It is important for a posterior malleolus fracture to be diagnosed and treated properly because of the risk for developing
arthritis. The back of the tibia where the bone breaks is covered with cartilage. Cartilage is the smooth surface that lines a
joint. If the broken piece of bone is larger than about 25% of your ankle, and is out of place more than a couple of
millimeters, the cartilage surface will not heal properly and the surface of the joint will not be smooth. This uneven surface
typically leads to increased and uneven pressure on the joint surface, which leads to cartilage damage and the development
of arthritis.

• BIMALLEOLAR:
• means that two of the three parts or malleoli of the ankle are broken.
• In most cases of bimalleolar fracture, the lateral malleolus and the medial malleolus are broken
and the ankle is not stable.
• A "bimalleolar equivalent" fracture means that in addition to one of the malleoli being fractured,
the ligaments on the inside (medial) side of the ankle are injured. Usually, this means that the
fibula is broken along with injury to the medial ligaments, making the ankle unstable.
• A stress test x-ray may be done to see whether the medial ligaments are injured.
• Bimalleolar fractures or bimalleolar equivalent fractures are unstable fractures and can be
associated with a dislocation.

• TRIMALLEOLAR FRACTURES:
• means that all three malleoli of
the ankle are broken. These are
unstable injuries and they can be
associated with a dislocation.

CAUSE
• Twisting or rotating your ankle
• Rolling your ankle
• Tripping or falling
• Impact during a car accident

SYMPTOMS
• Because a severe ankle sprain can feel the same as a broken ankle, every
ankle injury should be evaluated by a physician.
• Common symptoms for a broken ankle include:
• Immediate and severe pain
• Swelling
• Bruising
• Tender to touch
• Cannot put any weight on the injured foot
• Deformity ("out of place"), particularly if the ankle joint is dislocated as well

• X-ray
• Stress Test
• CT SCAN
• MRI

TREATMENT: LATERAL MALLEOLUS FRACTURE
• Several different methods are used for protecting the fracture while it heals, ranging
from a high-top tennis shoe to a short leg cast.
• the bone fragments are first repositioned (reduced) into their normal alignment.
They are held together with special screws and metal plates attached to the outer
surface of the bone.
• In some cases, a screw or rod inside the bone may be used to keep the bone
fragments together while they heal.

TREATMENT: MEDIAL MALLEOLUS FRACTURE
• The fracture may be treated with a short leg cast or a removable brace.
• If the fracture is out of place or the ankle is unstable, surgery may be recommended. Though in some cases,
surgery may be considered even if the fracture is not out of place. This is done to reduce the risk of the
fracture not healing (called a nonunion), and to allow you to start moving the ankle earlier.
• A medial malleolus fracture can include impaction or indenting of the ankle joint. Impaction occurs when a
force is so great it drives the end of one bone into another one. Repairing an impacted fracture may require
bone grafting. This graft acts as a scaffolding for new bone to grow on, and may lower any later risk of
developing arthritis.
• Depending on the fracture, the bone fragments may be fixed using screws, a plate and screws, or different
wiring techniques.

TREATMENT: POSTERIOR MALLEOLUS FRACTURE
• Treatment may be with a short leg cast or a removable brace. Patients are typically
advised not to put any weight on the ankle for 6 weeks.
• Different surgical options are available for treating posterior malleoli fractures. One
option is to have screws placed from the front of the ankle to the back, or vice versa.
Another option is to have a plate and screws placed along the back of the shin bone.

TREATMENT: BIMALLEOLAR FRACTURES/ BIMALLEOLAR
EQUIVALENT FRACTURES
• Immediate treatment typically includes a splint to immobilize the ankle until the
swelling goes down. A short leg cast is then applied. Casts may be changed
frequently as the swelling subsides in the ankle.
• In most cases, weight bearing is not be allowed for 6 weeks. After 6 weeks, the ankle
may be protected by a removable brace as it continues to heal.
• treated with the same surgical techniques as written above for each fracture listed.

TREATMENT: TRIMALLEOLAR FRACTURES
• Similar with bimalleolar fracture treatment
• can be treated with the same surgical techniques as written above for each
individual fracture.

COMPLICATIONS
• People who smoke, have diabetes, or are elderly are at a higher risk for complications after surgery, including
problems with wound healing. This is because it may take longer for their bones to heal.
• Malunion
• Infection
• Bleeding
• Pain
• Blood clots in your leg
• Damage to blood vessels, tendons, or nerves
• Difficulty with bone healing
• Arthritis
• Pain from the plates and screws that are used to fix fracture. Some patients choose to have them removed several months
after their fracture heals

DEFINITION
• Fractures of the toes and forefoot are quite common. Fractures can result from a
direct blow to the foot—such as accidentally kicking something hard or dropping
a heavy object on your toes.
• They can also result from the overuse and repetitive stress that comes with
participating in high-impact sports like running and basketball.
• Although fracturing a bone in your toe or forefoot can be quite painful—it rarely
requires surgery. In most cases, a fracture will heal with rest and a change in
activities.

DESCRIPTION
• Toe and forefoot fractures often result from trauma or direct injury to the bone.
Fractures can also develop after repetitive activity, rather than a single injury. This
is called a "stress fracture."
• Fractures may either be "non-displaced," where the bone is cracked but the ends
of the bone are together, or "displaced," where the end of the broken bones have
partially or completely separated.
• Fractures can also be divided into "closed fractures" where the skin is not broken
and "open fractures" where the skin is broken and the wound extends down to
the bone.

SYMPTOMS
• The most common symptoms of a fracture are:
• pain and swelling.
• Bruising or discoloration that extends to nearby parts of the foot
• Pain with walking and weight bearing

• Physical Examination:
• Swelling
• Tenderness over the fracture site
• Bruising or discoloration—your foot may
be red or ecchymotic ("black and blue")
• Deformity
• Skin abrasions or open wounds
• Loss of sensation—an indication of nerve
injury
• X-ray
• MRI

FRACTURES OF THE TOES
• Even though toes are very small, injuries to the toes can often be quite painful.
• The proximal phalanx is the toe bone that is closest to the metatarsals. Because it is the longest of
the toe bones, it is the most likely to fracture.
• Cause:
• A fracture of the toe may result from a direct injury, such as dropping a heavy object on the front of your foot,
or from accidentally kicking or running into a hard object.
• A fracture may also result if you accidentally hit the side of your foot on a piece of furniture on the ground—
and your toes are twisted or pulled sideways or in an awkward direction.
• Symptoms:
• A fractured toe may become swollen, tender and discolored.
• If the bone is out of place, your toe will appear deformed.

METATARSAL FRACTURES
• The metatarsals are the long bones between your toes and the middle of your foot. Each
metatarsal has the following four parts:
• Head which makes a joint with the base of the toe
• Neck which is the narrow area between the head and the shaft
• Shaft which is the long part of the bone
• Base which makes a joint with the midfoot
• Fractures can occur in any part of the metatarsal, but most often occur in the neck or
shaft of the bone.
• Some metatarsal fractures are stress fractures. Stress fractures are small cracks in the
surface of the bone that may extend and become larger over time.

METATARSAL FRACTURES
• Cause:
• Like toe fractures, metatarsal fractures can
result from either a direct blow to the
forefoot or from a twisting injury.
• Stress fractures are typically caused by
repetitive activity or pressure on the
forefoot. They are common in runners and
athletes who participate in high-impact
sports such as soccer and basketball.
• A stress fracture can also come from a
sudden increase in physical activity or a
change in your exercise routine.
(Left) The four parts of each metatarsal.
(Right) fracture in the shaft of the 2nd
metatarsal.

FIFTH METATARSAL FRACTURES
• The fifth metatarsal is the long bone on the outside of your foot. Injuries to this bone may be different than
fractures of the first four metatarsals.
• Most commonly, the fifth metatarsal fractures occur through the base of the bone. This usually cause from
an injury where the foot and ankle are twisted downward and inward.
• In this type of injury, the tendon that attaches to the base of the fifth metatarsal may stretch and pull a
fragment of bone away from the base. Since the fragment is pulled away from the rest of the bone, this type
of injury is called an "avulsion fracture."
• An avulsion fracture is also sometimes called a "ballerina fracture" or "dancer's fracture" because of the
"pointe" position that ballet dancers assume when they are up on their toes.
• Another type of fifth metatarsal fracture is a horizontal or transverse fracture through the junction of the
base and shaft of the bone. This is sometimes called a "Jones fracture." Since the blood supply to this area is
poor, Jones fractures are more prone to difficulties in healing.

an avulsion fracture at the base of the
fifth metatarsal (arrow).
(Left) Jones fracture at the base of the fifth
metatarsal (arrow). (Right) A screw has been
used to hold the bone in place while it heals.

TREATMENT: FRACTURES OF TOES
• Buddy taping
• Wear a wider than normal shoe.
• manipulate or "reduce" the fracture. This procedure is most often done in the
doctor's office. You will be given a local anesthetic to numb your foot, then
your doctor will manipulate the fracture back into place and straighten your
toe.

TREATMENT: METATARSAL FRACTURES
• Most metatarsal fractures can be treated with an initial period of elevation and
limited weight bearing. This is followed by gradual weight bearing, as tolerated, in a
cast or walking boot
• Surgery is not often required. However, if you have fractured several metatarsals at
the same time and your foot is deformed or unstable, surgery is necessary.
• Internal Fixation

TREATMENT: FIFTH METATARSAL FRACTURES
• Most fifth metatarsal fractures can be treated with weight bearing as
comfortable in a walking boot.
• Avulsion Fracture: open reduction and internal fixation (plates and screws).
• Jones Fracture: if it become nonunion, surgery is required.

Upper and Lower Extremity fractures

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