CAQ-Ortho key terms

A five-type system describing fractures that involve the growth plate, based on which regions of bone and physis are crossed; higher grades carry greater risk of growth disturbance.

Damage to the cartilaginous growth plate, which may cause premature closure, angular deformity, or limb length discrepancy depending on the type and location of the injury.

The capacity of growing bone to correct angular deformity over time through asymmetric growth and resorption; greatest in young children and in deformities near the joint in the plane of motion.

A fracture with a wound communicating with the fracture site, graded by soft-tissue and bone injury severity; requires urgent antibiotics, debridement, and stabilization to prevent deep infection.

Elevated pressure within a closed fascial compartment that compromises capillary perfusion and threatens muscle and nerve viability; diagnosed clinically with pain out of proportion and pain on passive stretch.

Surgical release of fascial compartments to restore perfusion in compartment syndrome; all compartments of the affected segment must be opened, and wounds are typically left open initially.

Surgical removal of devitalized tissue, foreign material, and contaminants from a wound or open fracture to reduce bacterial load and support healing.

Healing of a fracture in a non-anatomic position, producing deformity, shortening, or rotational malalignment that may impair function and require corrective osteotomy.

Failure of a fracture to heal within the expected time with no further progression on serial imaging; causes include instability, infection, poor blood supply, and inadequate biology.

Material placed at a fracture or fusion site to provide osteoconductive scaffold, osteoinductive signals, and/or osteogenic cells; autograft remains the standard for biology.

Infection of bone, often bacterial, presenting with pain, fever, and inflammatory markers; chronic disease involves dead bone (sequestrum) that must be surgically removed for cure.

Infection within a joint space that rapidly destroys cartilage; requires urgent joint aspiration, intravenous antibiotics, and often surgical washout to preserve joint function.

Infection involving an implanted joint replacement, diagnosed using clinical features, cultures, and inflammatory markers; treatment usually requires antibiotics with implant retention, debridement, or staged exchange.

Failure of an implant fixation without infection, driven by wear particles, particle-induced inflammation, and micromotion; classically causes progressive pain and radiolucent lines around components.

Localized bone loss around an implant or joint caused by an inflammatory response to wear debris, producing expanding radiolucent lesions that can undermine fixation.

A fracture occurring near or around an orthopaedic implant, often after low-energy trauma in osteopenic bone; treatment depends on implant stability, bone quality, and fracture pattern.

Reduced bone mass and microarchitectural deterioration that lowers bone strength and increases fracture risk; diagnosed by bone mineral density testing or fragility fracture history.

A fracture caused by a force equivalent to a fall from standing height or less in a person with weakened bone; signals elevated future fracture risk and warrants evaluation and treatment.

Collapse of a vertebral body, commonly from low-energy trauma in osteoporotic bone, causing back pain and loss of height; may be treated with bracing, analgesia, or augmentation procedures.

Degenerative joint disease with cartilage loss, subchondral sclerosis, osteophyte formation, and joint space narrowing, producing pain and stiffness that worsen with activity.

Replacement of a diseased joint surface with prosthetic components to relieve pain and restore function; major risks include infection, loosening, instability, and thromboembolism.

Surgical cutting and realignment of bone to correct deformity, shift load-bearing, or improve joint mechanics; commonly used for malalignment-related knee or hip arthritis in younger patients.

Surgical fusion of a joint to eliminate motion and pain, usually reserved for severe arthritis, instability, or failed arthroplasty; trade-off is loss of joint movement.

Stretching or tearing of a ligament from abnormal joint force, graded by severity; treatment ranges from protected weight-bearing and rehabilitation to surgical reconstruction for instability.

Tear of the ligament stabilizing the knee against anterior tibial translation, often from noncontact pivoting; presents with instability and a positive Lachman test, and may need reconstruction.

Rupture of the knee's fibrocartilaginous shock absorbers, causing joint-line pain, catching, and swelling; treatment depends on tear pattern, location, and patient age and activity.

Recurrent giving way of the ankle after lateral ligament injury, with impaired proprioception and functional control; managed first with rehabilitation and bracing, with surgery for refractory cases.

Painful degenerative condition of a tendon from overload, with structural disorganization and impaired healing rather than pure inflammation; managed with load-based rehabilitation.

Complete or partial disruption of a tendon, often after sudden loading in a degenerated tendon; presents with weakness, a palpable gap, and loss of active motion, and may require surgical repair.

Damage to a peripheral nerve from trauma, compression, or stretch, causing sensory loss, weakness, or pain; classification ranges from neurapraxia to axonotmesis to neurotmesis, guiding prognosis.

Compression of the median nerve at the wrist causing nocturnal numbness, tingling in the thumb-to-ring finger distribution, and thenar weakness; mild cases respond to splinting or injection.

Abnormal lateral curvature of the spine with vertebral rotation, measured by Cobb angle; adolescent idiopathic forms are common and may require bracing or surgical correction when progressive.

Surgical joining of adjacent vertebrae with bone graft and instrumentation to stop painful motion or correct deformity; healing depends on stable fixation and adequate bone biology.

Narrowing of the spinal canal or neural foramina from degenerative changes, causing neurogenic claudication or radicular symptoms that worsen with standing and walking and ease with sitting.

Formation of mature bone in soft tissue after trauma, surgery, or neurologic injury; may limit joint motion and is prevented in high-risk settings with prophylaxis.

Clot formation in deep veins, common after major orthopaedic surgery or immobility; presents with leg pain and swelling and can embolize to the lungs, so prophylaxis is standard.

Migration of thrombus to the pulmonary arteries causing dyspnea, chest pain, and hypoxemia; a potentially fatal complication of orthopaedic surgery and immobility requiring urgent anticoagulation.

Systemic illness after long-bone fracture or intramedullary instrumentation, with hypoxemia, petechiae, and confusion typically appearing within days; treatment is supportive.