- See:
-
Two Part Fractures:
-
Three Part Fractures:
-
Four Part Fracture:
- Definition of Displaced:
- segment displaced more than 10 mm or angulated more than 45 deg;
- Minimal Displacement:
- results from low energy forces & has preserved soft tissue hinges;
- pts w/ these frxs tend to have more pain than do pts w/ a impacted stable frx;
- immobilization is required until sufficient fracture healing has taken place to
render the patient pain free;
- Stable Frx (impacted vs non impacted);
- definition:
- a stable frx will not be displaced by physiological forces;
- pt can actively move extremity w\o pain, & limb can be moved passively
w/ little pain & no abnormal motion between shaft & head fragment;
- flouroscopy may indicate lack of independent motion between shaft
& prox fragment;
- rigidly impacted frx of the proximal humerus caused by low energy compressive
forces fulfills these criteria, even if multiple fragments are present;
- soft tissue hinges are most likely to be intact, so that AVN is unlikley
- arm may be immobilized in a sling and early motion started immediately;
- need for surgery is rare, except for stable frx w/ unacceptable
displacement, for example, an impacted stable frx w/ excessive
angulation in a young patient;
- greater than 45 deg angulation will affect arm motion;
