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What type of pelvic fracture is…

Medicine Questions

What type of pelvic fracture is most consistent with a patient who jumped from a third story, landed on their right foot, and has pain and crepitus in the right hip upon pressure to the iliac crests? A. Posterior compression fracture B. Lateral compression fracture C. Vertical shear fracture D. Anterior compression fracture

Short Answer

The patient’s injury shows significant pain and crepitus after a high-impact fall, indicating a likely fracture. The mechanism involved a fall from a height, resulting in a vertical shear fracture that disrupts the pelvic ring and may stretch or tear surrounding ligaments, particularly affecting treatment and rehabilitation.

Step-by-Step Solution

Identify the Nature of the Injury

The patient’s injury is characterized by significant pain and crepitus after experiencing a fall. This combination of symptoms signals a serious injury, particularly occurring after a high-impact event such as a jump. Recognizing these signs helps in narrowing down the possible types of fractures that may have resulted from the incident.

Understand the Mechanism of Injury

The mechanism of injury involved a fall from a height, specifically when the patient landed on their right foot from a third story jump. This type of fall applies a strong vertical force that can lead to disruptions in the pelvic region. In such cases, a vertical shear fracture is likely due to the upward transmission of force through the leg, causing profound effects on the pelvic structure.

Assess the Resulting Injuries

A vertical shear fracture typically results from the high-impact force causing misalignment of the pelvic ring. This injury often leads to excessive stretching or tearing of the surrounding ligaments, particularly the sacroiliac ligaments. Understanding these outcomes is crucial for determining the appropriate treatment and rehabilitation for the injury.

Related Concepts

Nature of injury

This refers to the specific characteristics and symptoms exhibited by the injury, such as pain and crepitus, which help in identifying the severity and type of injury sustained.

Mechanism of injury

This describes the way in which an injury occurred, including details about the forces and actions that led to the injury, such as a fall from height and the impact on the body.

Resulting injuries

These are the physical consequences of the injury, including specific types of fractures and the impact on surrounding structures, such as ligaments and pelvic alignment.