Case: A 15-year-old boy is rushed to the ER following a MVA. He was on a moped a
ID: 3480254 • Letter: C
Question
Case: A 15-year-old boy is rushed to the ER following a MVA. He was on a moped and was hit on the right side by an oncoming car. He suffered several injuries on his right side including a compound fracture of the tibia and fibula, fractures of ribs 5, 6, and 7, and a shattered scapula. He was not wearing a helmet and has a laceration posterior to the right ear. Surgery to set the tib-fib fracture was ruled out because of risk of bacterial endocarditis.
*** Of the fractures presented in this case, which will take the longest to heal? Why? (The reason is not special to this case, just comparing the bones broken here, which one takes the longest to heal?)
Explanation / Answer
TIBIA BONE WILL TAKE MAXIMUM TIME TO HEAL.
AS IN MOST OF THE ROAD ACCIDENTS BY VEHICLES , IT IS OBSERVED THAT IT IS THE TIBIA BONE WHICH USED TO GET MULTIPLE FRACTURES.
AND DUE TO MOST WEIGHT BEARING BONE IN THE LOWER LIMB IS TAKES TIME TO HEAL WITH PROPER ALIGNMENT.
SOMETIMES IT IS ALSO OBSERVED THAT THIS BONE UNDERGOES A NON UNION FRACTURE OR MALUNION.
THEREFORE IT IS THE TIBIA BONE WHICH WILL BE AFFECTED THE MOST IN MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENTS.