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Related Subjects: |Fractured Neck of Femur |Fractured Shaft Femur |Supracondylar Femur Fractures |Femoral fractures and Injuries |Acromio-clavicular joint |Shoulder Joint Structure and Form |Knee Joint Structure and Form |Wrist Joint Structure and Form |Types of Joints |Biceps tendon rupture |Upper Limb fractures and injuries |Hand fractures and Injuries |Lower Limb Fractures and Injuries
🦴 Humeral Fractures and Injuries. ⚠️ Always document a neurovascular exam (radial, ulnar, median, axillary nerves + pulses) for all humeral fractures.
| INJURY SITE | KEY POINTS (Mechanism + Pitfalls) | MANAGEMENT (ED + Follow-up) |
|---|---|---|
| Neck of Humerus | 🤕 FOOSH, common in elderly. ⚡ Axillary nerve injury → “regimental badge” numbness, deltoid weakness. | 🩹 Collar & cuff / U-slab. 📅 Fracture clinic. 🚨 Ortho if young/active (fixation). |
| Greater Tuberosity | 📍 Fall onto shoulder/hand. ⚠️ Rotator cuff dysfunction, stiffness/impingement if displaced. | 🩹 Collar & cuff. Avoid early abduction. 📅 Clinic – fixation if >5 mm displacement. |
| Shaft (mid-third) | 🔄 Twisting → spiral #; 💥 blow → transverse #. ⚡ Radial nerve palsy (wrist drop). Rare in kids → consider NAI. | 🩹 Hanging U-slab; some need ORIF/IM nail. 📅 Clinic. 🚨 Ortho if radial nerve injury. |
| Supracondylar (children) | 🤸 FOOSH. ⚠️ Brachial artery injury, nerve palsy, compartment syndrome. | Undisplaced → POP 90°. Displaced → urgent MUA ± K-wires. 📅 Clinic if stable. |
| Lateral Epicondyle (children) | 🤕 Fall. Rare. ⚠️ Non-union risk. | 🩹 POP. 📅 Clinic; fixation if >2 mm displaced. |
| Medial Epicondyle (children) | ⚡ Avulsion with dislocation. ⚠️ Ulnar nerve palsy. | 🩹 POP. 🚨 Ortho if displaced/entrapped. 📅 Clinic otherwise. |
📌 Exam Pearls:
– Neck → Axillary nerve.
– Shaft → Radial nerve (wrist drop).
– Supracondylar (kids) → vascular compromise.
– Always check for compartment syndrome.
| INJURY SITE | KEY POINTS (Mechanism + Pitfalls) | MANAGEMENT (ED + Follow-up) |
|---|---|---|
| Radial head & neck | 🤕 FOOSH. ⚡ Check posterior interosseous nerve. | 🩹 Collar & cuff. 📅 Clinic if displaced. ✅ Discharge if simple. |
| Shaft | 🤕 FOOSH or 💥 blow. ⚡ Galeazzi = shaft # + DRUJ dislocation. | 🩹 Above elbow POP ± MUA. 🚨 Ortho if Galeazzi. 📅 Clinic otherwise. |
| Distal metaphysis – Colles’ | 🤕 FOOSH (elderly). ⚡ Median nerve injury. | 1️⃣ High-energy/intra-articular → urgent ortho. 2️⃣ Frail/low demand → POP. 3️⃣ Others → MUA + POP. 📅 Clinic vs 🚨 Ortho depending on position. |
| Distal metaphysis – Smith’s / Barton’s | 🤕 FOOSH. ⚡ Median nerve risk. | 🩹 Above elbow POP (wrist dorsiflexed). 🚨 Immediate ortho referral. |
| Styloid | 🤕 FOOSH. Usually benign. | 🩹 Below elbow POP. 📅 Clinic. |
| Buckle / Torus (children) | 🤕 FOOSH. ⚠️ Missed fractures possible. | Stable → splint + discharge. Other → POP. 📅 Clinic if deformity. 🚨 Ortho if severe. |
| Olecranon | 🤕 Fall on elbow. ⚠️ Open #, triceps displacement, ulnar nerve risk. | Hairline → POP. Displaced/open → 🚨 Ortho (washout/fixation). 📅 Clinic if simple. |
📌 Exam Pearls:
– Radial head/neck → check PIN.
– Shaft → think Galeazzi.
– Colles’ → elderly + median nerve.
– Smith’s/Barton’s → unstable.
– Buckle (kids) → splint + discharge.
– Olecranon → beware triceps pull & ulnar nerve.
| INJURY SITE | KEY POINTS (Mechanism + Pitfalls) | MANAGEMENT (ED + Follow-up) |
|---|---|---|
| Triquetral # | 🤕 Hyperextension. ✅ Full recovery expected. | 🩹 Splint or POP. 📄 Discharge or 📅 clinic. |
| Lunate dislocation | 🤕 FOOSH / 🚗 RTC. ⚠️ Easily missed (“spilled teacup”). | 🩹 Splint/POP. 🚨 Ortho referral for reduction & fixation. |
| Bennett’s # (1st MC base) | 👊 Blow or forced abduction. ⚠️ Unstable intra-articular. | 🩹 POP if extra-articular. 🚨 Ortho if intra-articular/displaced. |
| UCL injury (Skier’s thumb) | 🤕 Forcible abduction. ⚠️ Missed → permanent disability. | 🩹 Scaphoid backslab. 🚨 Ortho if laxity/avulsion. |
| 5th Metacarpal Neck (Boxer’s #) | 👊 Punch. ⚠️ Infection risk (“fight bite”). | Closed ≤40° → buddy strap. Open/bite → washout + abx + buddy strap. 📄 Discharge or 🚨 Ortho. |
| 5th MC Shaft | 🤕 Trauma. ⚠️ Check rotation. | 🩹 POP. 📅 Hand clinic. |
| Other Metacarpals | 🤕 Direct blow. ⚠️ Shortening, rotation. | Buddy strap / POP / 🚨 Ortho depending on severity. |
| Phalanges | 🤕 Simple undisplaced. ⚠️ May angulate/rotate. | Correct >10° under ring block. 🩹 Buddy strap. 📅 Hand clinic. |
| Terminal phalanx | 🤕 Direct blow/laceration. ⚠️ Nail bed or open injury. | Closed → strap. Open → washout + abx. Nail bed injury → replace nail. 🚨 Ortho if severe. |
| Mallet finger | 🤕 Forced flexion. ⚠️ Dropped fingertip. | 🩹 Mallet splint ×6 weeks. 📄 Discharge or 📅 clinic if avulsion. |
| MCP/IP dislocations | 🤕 Hyperextension. ⚠️ Associated # possible. | 🔧 Reduce under LA. 🩹 Buddy strap. 📅 Clinic. 🚨 Ortho if irreducible. |
| Cuts & Bites | ✂️ Risk to tendon, nerve, artery. 🐶 Bites → infection risk. | 🧼 Irrigate, document neurology. Minor tendon (<1/3) → close. >2/3 tendon/artery/nerve → 🚨 Ortho. All bites → discuss with ortho. |
📌 Exam Pearls:
– Boxer’s # → check for “fight bite”.
– Bennett’s # → unstable → ortho.
– Mallet finger → splint 6 weeks.
– Lunate dislocation → look for “spilled teacup”.
– UCL injury → test laxity carefully.