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What Is Hematoma Block?

December 31, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Hematoma block involves infiltration of local anaesthetic agent within the fracture.  This technique is frequently employed for anesthesia during reduction of distal radius fractures but also in some cases of forearm and leg fractures.

The infiltratiractureon of local anesthetic agent within the fracture serves to block the nerve fibers of the surrounding soft tissues and the periosteum around the fracture. Whenever a bone breaks, bleeding occurs at the site of the fracture and collection is fracture hematoma.

By injecting the local anesthetic into the hematoma, the ends of the broken bone are bathed in the local anesthetic providing  anesthesia to the area of the fracture. [Read more...]

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What Is Herbert Screw?

December 15, 2011 By 1 Comment

A Herbert screw is a special purpose screw used to compress small fractures fragments. One of the unique feature of the screw is that it is threaded on the both sides. It is also called headless screw.

The screw was invented by Timothy Herbert.

Herbert Screw
Herbert Screw

One end of the screw has cancellous threads while the other end has larger diameter cortical screw threads. The cancellous screw is inserted first and crosses the proximal fracture, screwing into the bone of the distal fragment. As it is screwed in, the proximal cortical portion engages the proximal bone fragment.

Herbert screws are especially useful in articular fractures and small bones like scaphoid.

Because of difference in the pitch and the size of the threads, Each turn of the screw causes the distal end to travel farther into bone than the proximal end resulting in compression of the fracture.

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Erb’s Point

December 9, 2011 By 1 Comment

Also called punctum nervosum, Erb’s point is a a landmark of the brachial plexus on the upper trunk, located about 1 inch (2.5 cm) above the clavicle at about the level of the sixth cervical vertebra.

It is located on the posterior border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle midway between its attachments to the mastoid process, and the sternum and clavicle.

Erb’s point is formed by the union of the C5 and C6 nerve roots, which later converge. Branches of suprascapular nerves and the nerve to the subclavius also merge. The merged nerve divides into the anterior and posterior division of C5 and C6.

Injury to Erb’s point is commonly sustained at birth or from a fall onto the shoulder.

The nerve roots normally involved are C5 and partly C6. [Read more...]

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What Is Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate or ESR

December 2, 2011 By 1 Comment

The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), also called a sedimentation rate or Biernacki Reaction, [The test was invented by the Polish doctor Edmund Biernacki] is a common test in hematology [A branch of pathology dealing in blood investigations] and measures the rate at which red blood cells sediment in a period of 1 hour.

The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (is a nonspecific because increased results do not tell the doctor exactly where the inflammation is in the body or what is causing it, and also because it can be affected by other conditions besides inflammation.

For this reason, the ESR is typically used in conjunction with other tests. [Read more...]

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Hyperextension Casting

August 31, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Hyperextension casting is a non operative method to treat thoracolumbar spine injuries where a casthyperextension-cast is applied in position of hyperextension.

Click Here To Read Method Of Applying Hyperextension Cast

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Flexor Digitorum Brevis

August 13, 2010 By 11 Comments

The flexor digitorum brevis is the muscle in the middle of the sole of the foot. It lies firmly attached to and immediately above the central part of the plantar aponeurosis.

Its deep surface is separated from the lateral plantar vessels and nerves by a thin layer of fascia.

It arises by a narrow tendon, from the medial process of the tuberosity of the calcaneus, from the central part of the plantar aponeurosis, and from the intermuscular septa between it and the adjacent muscles.

It passes forward, and divides into four tendons, one for each of the four lesser toes. [Read more...]

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Fracture Hematoma

April 1, 2010 By Leave a Comment

A hematoma is a mass of clotted blood that forms at an injury site.

A fracture hematoma is a clot resulting from a break in a blood vessel within the bone, the marrow space, the periosteum, or the surrounding tissue associated with a bone fracture.

Until the fracture communicates with exterior or in some special cases internal organs like viscera, the fracture hematoma surrounds the fracture.

Fracture hematoma plays an important role in bone healing.

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Flexor Carpi Ulnaris

March 27, 2010 By Leave a Comment

The flexor carpi ulnaris muscle (FCU) is a muscle of the human forearm that causes flexion and adduction of the hand. It arises by two heads from humerus and ulna connected together by a tendinous arch.

The humeral head arises from the medial epicondyle of the humerus by the common flexor tendon and ulnar head arises from the medial margin of the olecranon of the ulna and from the upper two-thirds of the dorsal border of the ulna.

It inserts into the pisiform bone and then via ligaments into the hamate bone and 5th metacarpal bone.

Flexor carpi ulnaris is the most medial tendon visible on resisted flexion of wrist.

It is supplied by ulnar nerve.

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Flexor Retinaculum

March 20, 2010 By 2 Comments

There are two flexor retinacula in the body. One flexor retinaculum is present in the wrist and other is present in the ankle.

Flexor Retinaculum of Wrist

The flexor retinaculum of the wrist is also called transverse carpal ligament or anterior annular ligament.

It is a strong, fibrous band, that arches over the carpus, converting the deep groove on the front of the carpal bones into a tunnel, the carpal tunnel.

It is attached, medially, to the pisiform and the hamulus of the hamate bone,  laterally, to the tubercle of the scaphoid, and to the medial part of the volar surface and the ridge of the trapezium.

Superficially, it is with the volar carpal ligament and in depth with the palmar aponeurosis. It is crossed by the ulnar vessels and nerve, and the cutaneous branches of the median and ulnar nerves. [Read more...]

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Flexor Digitorum Profundus

March 18, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Flexor digitorum profundus  is a muscle in the forearm  that flexes the fingers or digits. and along with the flexor pollicis longus, pronator quadratus, and flexor digitorum profundus form the deep layer of ventral forearm muscles.

Flexor digitorum profundus originates upper 3/4 of anterior & medial surfaces of ulna, interosseous membrane and deep fascia of the forearm.Flexor digitorum profundus lies deep to flexor digitorum superficialis, but it attaches more distally. [See for insertion on the second diagram below] [Read more...]

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