Post-traumatic sequelae of femoral head comminuted fracture

Written by Lv Yao
Orthopedics
Updated on September 24, 2024
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A comminuted fracture generally refers to a fracture with more than three fragments. When a comminuted fracture occurs in the femoral head, it is also a type of intra-articular comminuted fracture. Generally speaking, after the fracture is reduced and stabilized, there can be some damage to the joint surface as well, leading to unevenness of the joint surface and a higher chance of developing postoperative traumatic arthritis. There is also a possibility that the comminution of the femoral head fracture could affect the blood supply to the femoral head, leading to ischemic necrosis of the femoral head. After treatment for the fracture injury, there will inevitably be some impact on postoperative function. Therefore, after a comminuted fracture of the femoral head, the first sequelae to appear is usually traumatic arthritis, followed by ischemic necrosis of the femoral head, and thirdly, symptoms of restricted movement in the hip joint may occur.

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Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
1min 13sec home-news-image

Is a comminuted patellar fracture serious?

Patellar comminuted fractures are usually quite severe because once the patella is shattered, it can no longer guarantee a smooth cartilage surface. Moreover, the more severe the fragmentation, the harder it is to restore smoothness. If the smooth surface is not well restored, certain conditions can arise. The first is post-traumatic arthritis, the second is patellar chondromalacia, and the third is patellofemoral arthritis. Therefore, patellar comminuted fractures usually require open reduction and internal fixation surgery. In this surgery, it is crucial to align the cartilage surface of the patella as accurately as possible, making the joint surface as smooth as possible, and then fasten it securely with wire loops or tension bands. If the patellar fragmentation is particularly severe, and it's impossible to restore the integrity of the cartilage surface, it may be considered to remove the patella. If feasible, a prosthetic patella can be installed. If not, the ligaments and joint should be repaired, and then functional exercises should begin three to four weeks post-surgery, although this method of surgery typically results in weakness in extending the knee on the affected side.

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Written by Lv Yao
Orthopedics
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Is a comminuted fracture of the tibia serious?

A comminuted fracture of the tibia is defined as a fracture where there are three or more fracture fragments, termed a comminuted fracture. The severity of a comminuted fracture of the tibia depends on the location of the fracture. If the fracture is located at the epiphyseal end, where there is abundant blood supply, healing may occur more quickly. However, if the fracture is accompanied by surrounding soft tissue injuries, the healing process can be very slow. If the fracture occurs in the middle to distal third of the bone, where the blood supply is more limited, healing can be slower compared to simple transverse fractures, and the prognosis may vary depending on the choice of treatment method.

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Written by Wang Cheng Lin
Orthopedics
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Can a lumbar crush fracture cause paralysis?

Whether a lumbar burst fracture will cause paralysis mainly depends on the severity of the comminution and whether the fracture fragments protrude into the vertebral foramen, compressing the nerves. If it is simply a comminuted fracture and the fragments do not protrude posteriorly and do not compress the nerve roots, then it will not cause paralysis of the lower limbs. However, if the fracture fragments protrude backwards and compress the spinal nerves, or even damage the spinal nerves, the patient may experience complete loss of muscle strength and sensation in both lower limbs. In this case, emergency surgery is required to relieve this compression and reduce the pressure on the nerves, thereby alleviating the symptoms. If lower limb paralysis occurs, long-term oral medication to nourish the nerves is needed to help the nerves gradually recover. Therefore, whether a fracture can cause paralysis mainly depends on whether the nerve is compressed by the fracture fragments. If there is compression, it will result in complete loss of muscle strength and sensation in the patient's lower limbs. (Please take medication under the guidance of a professional physician.)

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Written by Lv Yao
Orthopedics
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Post-traumatic sequelae of femoral head comminuted fracture

A comminuted fracture generally refers to a fracture with more than three fragments. When a comminuted fracture occurs in the femoral head, it is also a type of intra-articular comminuted fracture. Generally speaking, after the fracture is reduced and stabilized, there can be some damage to the joint surface as well, leading to unevenness of the joint surface and a higher chance of developing postoperative traumatic arthritis. There is also a possibility that the comminution of the femoral head fracture could affect the blood supply to the femoral head, leading to ischemic necrosis of the femoral head. After treatment for the fracture injury, there will inevitably be some impact on postoperative function. Therefore, after a comminuted fracture of the femoral head, the first sequelae to appear is usually traumatic arthritis, followed by ischemic necrosis of the femoral head, and thirdly, symptoms of restricted movement in the hip joint may occur.

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Written by Wang Cheng Lin
Orthopedics
54sec home-news-image

How long will it take for a comminuted ankle fracture to heal?

Hello! You're asking how long it takes for a comminuted ankle fracture to heal. Generally, the healing time for a comminuted fracture in the ankle is about three months. Depending on your specific condition, you may need to have an X-ray to confirm if your ankle fracture has achieved bony union. If bony union has been achieved, you can then appropriately begin weight-bearing activities to promote blood circulation in the lower limbs and restore joint mobility. However, if the X-ray shows that bony union has not been achieved, it is absolutely crucial not to bear weight. Premature weight-bearing can cause the fracture ends to break again and shift, potentially necessitating a second surgery. So, generally speaking, the healing time for non-comminuted ankle fractures is also about three months, but it is essential to check the final X-ray to see if the fracture has healed.