Orthopedic Board flashcards

31 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Salter-Harris type II

Fracture through the physis extending into the metaphysis, the most common pediatric physeal injury; usually managed with closed reduction and casting with good prognosis.

Garden III femoral neck

Complete femoral neck fracture with partial displacement; treated with internal fixation or arthroplasty depending on patient age and activity level; high risk of avascular necrosis.

Compartment delta pressure

Diastolic blood pressure minus compartment pressure; a value below 30 mmHg supports fasciotomy in suspected acute compartment syndrome.

Cauda equina syndrome

Saddle anesthesia, bowel or bladder dysfunction, and bilateral leg symptoms from compression of the lumbosacral nerve roots; a surgical emergency requiring urgent MRI and decompression.

Staphylococcus aureus osteomyelitis

The most common organism causing osteomyelitis across all age groups; Salmonella is associated with sickle cell disease and Pseudomonas with IV drug use.

Gartland classification

Classifies pediatric supracondylar humerus fractures: type I nondisplaced, type II displaced with intact posterior cortex, type III completely displaced; guides operative versus nonoperative management.

Osteosarcoma age peak

Osteosarcoma most commonly presents in the second decade of life, typically in the metaphysis of long bones around the knee.

Open fracture antibiotics

Administer cefazolin within one hour for type I and II open fractures, adding an aminoglycoside for type III injuries, along with tetanus prophylaxis.

Anterior interosseous nerve

A branch of the median nerve supplying the flexor pollicis longus and flexor digitorum profundus to the index finger; injury causes loss of the pinch sign.

Septic arthritis of the hip

Presents with fever, hip pain, and refusal to bear weight; urgent aspiration and irrigation are required to prevent joint destruction, especially in children.

Distal radius Colles fracture

A distal radius fracture with dorsal angulation and displacement, often from a fall on an outstretched hand; associated with ulnar styloid fracture and median nerve symptoms.

Achilles tendon rupture exam

A positive Thompson test (no plantar flexion on calf squeeze) and a palpable gap indicate Achilles tendon rupture; treated operatively or nonoperatively based on patient factors.

Ankle-brachial index in knee dislocation

An ABI below 0.9 after knee dislocation warrants CT angiography to evaluate for popliteal artery injury, a limb-threatening complication.

Two-stage revision arthroplasty

Treatment for chronic periprosthetic joint infection: remove the implant, place an antibiotic spacer, then reimplant after infection is eradicated.

Displaced intracapsular hip fracture

In elderly patients, displaced femoral neck fractures are typically treated with arthroplasty rather than internal fixation to reduce reoperation risk.

Extracapsular hip fracture

Intertrochanteric and subtrochanteric fractures are treated with intramedullary nailing or a dynamic hip screw, with early mobilization to reduce complications.

Ankle syndesmosis assessment

Evaluate tibiofibular clear space and medial clear space on radiographs; widening suggests syndesmotic injury requiring screw or tightrope fixation.

Rotator cuff repair indications

Acute traumatic full-thickness rotator cuff tears in active patients warrant early surgical repair; chronic degenerative tears may be managed nonoperatively first.

Reverse shoulder arthroplasty

Indicated for rotator cuff arthropathy or pseudoparalysis with massive irreparable cuff tears; reverses the ball-and-socket anatomy to restore deltoid function.

Four-compartment fasciotomy

Leg decompression via lateral and medial incisions; wounds are left open and closed later by delayed primary closure or skin grafting.

Pediatric forearm remodeling

Children under 10 years can remodel approximately 10 degrees of angulation per year of age; fractures within this range may be treated with casting alone.

Open fracture debridement timing

Urgent surgical debridement and stabilization are indicated for open fractures, along with antibiotics within one hour and tetanus prophylaxis.

Periprosthetic joint infection

Classified as acute postoperative, chronic, or hematogenous; chronic cases usually require two-stage revision with an antibiotic spacer.

Compartment syndrome clinical signs

Pain out of proportion and pain with passive stretch are the earliest reliable signs; pulselessness and paralysis are late and indicate advanced ischemia.

Supracondylar fracture pulse check

Assess the radial pulse and anterior interosseous nerve function in pediatric supracondylar humerus fractures; a pulseless limb may require urgent reduction and pinning.

Knee dislocation vascular risk

A multiligamentous knee injury with high energy carries a high risk of popliteal artery injury; reduce and splint, then obtain an ABI and imaging.

Tumor biopsy principle

Biopsy should be performed at the definitive treatment center after imaging and staging, to avoid compromising later limb-salvage surgery.

Salter-Harris type IV

Fracture through the metaphysis, physis, and epiphysis; requires anatomic reduction to restore the joint surface and reduce the risk of physeal arrest.

Thompson test

Squeezing the calf should produce plantar flexion; absence of plantar flexion indicates Achilles tendon rupture.

Hip septic arthritis workup

Urgent hip aspiration with Gram stain and culture, along with inflammatory markers, is required when septic arthritis is suspected; irrigation is the treatment.

Median nerve in distal radius fracture

Acute carpal tunnel syndrome from median nerve compression can complicate distal radius fractures; monitor for numbness and consider release if progressive.