UPSC-CMS 2014 — Orthopaedics

Q: An 8 year old girl sustained a fall on the outstretched right hand 6 hours ago and was treated with egg albumen bandages by a village bone setter. She presented with gross swelling of the right elbow and forearm. The first essential intervention in this case would be to

completely remove all encircling bandages.. ***completely remove all encircling bandages.*** - An 8-year-old with a fall on an outstretched hand and gross swelling of the elbow and forearm points to a **supracondylar fracture of the humerus**, which can lead to **compartment syndrome**. - **Tight bandages** (like egg albumen) will exacerbate swelling, impede venous return, and compromise arterial inflow, making their immediate removal essential to prevent **ischemia** and potential **nerve damage**. *elevate the right hand.* - While elevation helps reduce swelling, it is **secondary** to relieving any constricting external pressure caused by the bandages, which are the more immediate threat. - Elevating a limb with compromised circulation due to external compression would be insufficient and could delay proper management. *immerse the hand in warm water to increase the circulation.* - Immersing an injured limb in warm water can **increase swelling** and potentially aggravate bleeding into the tissues, which is counterproductive in a situation with suspected compartment syndrome. - This intervention would **worsen the clinical picture** and is inappropriate for acute trauma with significant swelling. *order urgent radiographs of both elbows.* - While radiographs are crucial for diagnosing the underlying fracture, they are **not the first essential intervention** in a limb with gross swelling and potential vascular compromise from tight bandages. - Addressing the immediate threat of **compartment syndrome** and relieving external compression takes priority over diagnostic imaging. [Practice more Orthopaedics PYQs on OnCourse]

Q: In a fracture of shaft of longbone, the component which contributes least in fracture healing is:

Endosteum. ***Endosteum*** - The **endosteum** is a thin vascular membrane that lines the inner surface of the bony tissue forming the medullary cavity of long bones. - While it has osteogenic potential, its contribution to callus formation and overall fracture healing is **less significant** compared to the richly vascularized periosteum and the surrounding musculature. *Blood vessels* - **Blood vessels** are crucial for delivering essential nutrients, oxygen, and cells (like **osteoblasts** and **osteoclasts**) to the fracture site, which are fundamental for callus formation and bone remodeling. - Their disruption can significantly impair healing, making them a **major contributor** to the process. *Periosteum* - The **periosteum** is a dense, fibrous membrane covering the outer surface of bones, except at articular surfaces, and is rich in **osteogenic cells** and blood vessels. - It plays a **dominant role** in forming the external callus, especially in long bone fractures, due to its **cambial layer** containing progenitor cells. *Matrix* - The **bone matrix** (both organic and inorganic components) is the framework upon which new bone is laid down during fracture healing. - While it provides structural support, the matrix itself does not actively *contribute* to the cellular processes of healing; rather, it is the **product of these processes** involving cells like osteoblasts. [Practice more Orthopaedics PYQs on OnCourse]

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An 8 year old girl sustained a fall on the outstretched right hand 6 hours ago and was treated with egg albumen bandages by a village bone setter. She presented with gross swelling of the right elbow and forearm. The first essential intervention in this case would be to

In a fracture of shaft of longbone, the component which contributes least in fracture healing is:

UPSC-CMS 2014 - Orthopaedics UPSC-CMS Practice Questions and MCQs

Question 1: An 8 year old girl sustained a fall on the outstretched right hand 6 hours ago and was treated with egg albumen bandages by a village bone setter. She presented with gross swelling of the right elbow and forearm. The first essential intervention in this case would be to

A. completely remove all encircling bandages. (Correct Answer)
B. elevate the right hand.
C. immerse the hand in warm water to increase the circulation.
D. order urgent radiographs of both elbows.

Explanation: ***completely remove all encircling bandages.*** - An 8-year-old with a fall on an outstretched hand and gross swelling of the elbow and forearm points to a **supracondylar fracture of the humerus**, which can lead to **compartment syndrome**. - **Tight bandages** (like egg albumen) will exacerbate swelling, impede venous return, and compromise arterial inflow, making their immediate removal essential to prevent **ischemia** and potential **nerve damage**. *elevate the right hand.* - While elevation helps reduce swelling, it is **secondary** to relieving any constricting external pressure caused by the bandages, which are the more immediate threat. - Elevating a limb with compromised circulation due to external compression would be insufficient and could delay proper management. *immerse the hand in warm water to increase the circulation.* - Immersing an injured limb in warm water can **increase swelling** and potentially aggravate bleeding into the tissues, which is counterproductive in a situation with suspected compartment syndrome. - This intervention would **worsen the clinical picture** and is inappropriate for acute trauma with significant swelling. *order urgent radiographs of both elbows.* - While radiographs are crucial for diagnosing the underlying fracture, they are **not the first essential intervention** in a limb with gross swelling and potential vascular compromise from tight bandages. - Addressing the immediate threat of **compartment syndrome** and relieving external compression takes priority over diagnostic imaging.

Question 2: In a fracture of shaft of longbone, the component which contributes least in fracture healing is:

A. Blood vessels
B. Periosteum
C. Endosteum (Correct Answer)
D. Matrix

Explanation: ***Endosteum*** - The **endosteum** is a thin vascular membrane that lines the inner surface of the bony tissue forming the medullary cavity of long bones. - While it has osteogenic potential, its contribution to callus formation and overall fracture healing is **less significant** compared to the richly vascularized periosteum and the surrounding musculature. *Blood vessels* - **Blood vessels** are crucial for delivering essential nutrients, oxygen, and cells (like **osteoblasts** and **osteoclasts**) to the fracture site, which are fundamental for callus formation and bone remodeling. - Their disruption can significantly impair healing, making them a **major contributor** to the process. *Periosteum* - The **periosteum** is a dense, fibrous membrane covering the outer surface of bones, except at articular surfaces, and is rich in **osteogenic cells** and blood vessels. - It plays a **dominant role** in forming the external callus, especially in long bone fractures, due to its **cambial layer** containing progenitor cells. *Matrix* - The **bone matrix** (both organic and inorganic components) is the framework upon which new bone is laid down during fracture healing. - While it provides structural support, the matrix itself does not actively *contribute* to the cellular processes of healing; rather, it is the **product of these processes** involving cells like osteoblasts.