Veterinary Orthopedic Fracture Classification Quiz

Fracture Classification and Decision Making in Veterinary Orthopedics

• Fracture patterns include transverse, short oblique, long oblique, and comminuted, with specific anatomically-specific patterns and the S-H classification
• Fracture patterns are classified based on displacement, with non-displaced, minimally displaced, and displaced fractures
• Fracture classification also considers open or closed fractures, with degrees of soft tissue trauma and contamination using the modified Gustilo-Anderson classification
• Fracture etiology is categorized as traumatic versus pathologic, high energy versus low energy, and penetrating versus blunt force, significantly affecting treatment options and prognosis
• Consequences of bad decisions in fracture management include technical errors, soft tissue damage, prolonged operating time, breaks in aseptic technique, extra expense, loss of function, infection, implant failure, and other complications
• Patient assessment for orthopedic injury involves initial exam and triage, stabilization, secondary exam, diagnostic imaging, fracture classification, and decision making
• Case examples of orthopedic injury management in dogs, including initial stabilization, surgical stabilization, and treatment outcomes
• Patient Fracture Assessment Score (PFAS) evaluates biological, mechanical, and clinical compliance factors to guide fracture assessment and decision making
• PFAS categories assess risk of infection, experience of surgeon, function and loads on affected bone, and owner compliance for aftercare instructions
• PFAS guides treatment options, predicts prognosis, dictates follow-up plans, and sets expectations when monitoring healing
• Fracture decision making involves adequately neutralizing forces causing instability at the fracture site, considering urgency, and determining if the plan is good for the patient and understood by the owner
• Fracture classification schemes and PFAS provide a comprehensive approach to guide therapeutic interventions and decision-making in veterinary orthopedics

Approach to Secondary Causes of Anemia

• The text discusses a systematic approach to identifying secondary causes of anemia in dogs, including infection, neoplasia, toxicity, and drug reactions.
• It outlines the level of clinical suspicion and risk factors for each potential cause, offering a structured approach for investigation.

Identification of Potential Toxins

• The text highlights the importance of investigating potential toxin exposure, particularly from medications that may be present in the client's home.
• It lists specific medications, such as antibiotics and methimazole, that could be ingested inappropriately by the dog.

Diagnostic Process for Anemia

• It describes a case study of a dog named Murphy and the diagnostic steps taken to confirm the diagnosis of immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA).
• The diagnostic process includes assessing environmental exposure, vaccination history, and reviewing the medical records.

Therapeutic Goals for IMHA

• The text outlines the therapeutic goals for managing IMHA, including improving red blood cell mass, minimizing pigment impact on organs, mitigating thromboembolic risk, and suppressing the immune system.
• It emphasizes the importance of balancing therapeutic effects with potential adverse effects when managing IMHA.

Blood Transfusion Considerations

• The text discusses the criteria for administering blood transfusions in dogs with IMHA, emphasizing the importance of clinical signs of compensation or decompensation due to anemia.
• It specifies the types of blood products, such as packed red blood cells or fresh whole blood, that may be used for transfusions.

Complications of IMHA

• It highlights the potential complications of IMHA, including pigment accumulation leading to organ damage such as pigment nephropathy and bilirubin encephalopathy.
• The text underscores the importance of IV fluid support in managing these complications.

Thromboprophylaxis in IMHA

• The text addresses the hypercoagulable state associated with IMHA and the high risk of pulmonary thromboembolism in affected dogs.
• It discusses the use of anticoagulants (heparin, rivaroxaban) and platelet inhibitors (aspirin, clopidogrel) for thromboprophylaxis in IMHA.

Different Protocols for Thromboprophylaxis

• It outlines various protocols for thromboprophylaxis in IMHA, including the use of rivaroxaban, aspirin, heparin, clopidogrel, and low-molecular-weight heparin.
• The text emphasizes the need for a practical approach to thromboprophylaxis based on the presence or absence of evidence of thromboembolism in IMHA.

Immune-Suppressive Therapy in IMHA

• The text underscores the use of corticosteroids as the mainstay of immune-suppressive therapy for IMHA due to their broad properties and evidence-based efficacy.
• It also mentions adjunctive immune-suppressive agents such as az

Test your knowledge of fracture classification and decision making in veterinary orthopedics with this quiz. Explore fracture patterns, displacement, etiology, consequences of bad decisions, patient assessment, case examples, Patient Fracture Assessment Score (PFAS), and how these factors guide treatment options and prognosis.