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Trauma
intermediate
X-Type

Tibial Shaft Fractures - IM Nailing, Compartment Syndrome and Open Fracture Management

Long Bone Fractures

A 28-year-old motorcyclist presents after a collision with a mid-shaft tibial fracture. The wound is 8cm with exposed bone and moderate contamination. He reports severe pain in his calf that is worsening despite analgesia. The leg is tense, and pain increases with passive toe extension. The foot is warm with palpable pulses. The trauma team initiates antibiotics and prepares for emergency surgery. The surgeon discusses the management priorities including compartment syndrome risk and open fracture protocol. Regarding tibial shaft fractures and their management:

Mark each as TRUE or FALSE

A

Tibial shaft fractures have the HIGHEST open fracture rate of any long bone (25%) due to the subcuta...

B

COMPARTMENT SYNDROME is a limb-threatening emergency in tibial fractures; the leg has 4 compartments...

C

The femur has the highest open fracture rate; unreamed nails have better union rates than reamed; 2 ...

D

OPEN FRACTURE protocol: IV antibiotics within 1 HOUR (cephalosporin for Gustilo I-II, add aminoglyco...

E

GUSTILO-ANDERSON classification: Type I = wound under 1cm, minimal contamination; Type II = wound 1-...

Answer the questions to see explanations

Click T (True) or F (False) for each option