OCC OCC Fracture Types & Casting Indications 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A Jones fracture is located at which anatomical site?
- Base of the fifth metatarsal at the metaphyseal-diaphyseal junction (Correct answer)
- Distal fifth metatarsal
- Fifth metatarsal head
- Calcaneus
Correct answer: Base of the fifth metatarsal at the metaphyseal-diaphyseal junction
The Jones fracture occurs at the proximal fifth metatarsal junction, where poor vascularity makes healing difficult and often requires non-weight-bearing casting.
Question 2: Which fracture results from repetitive loading rather than acute trauma?
- Stress fracture (Correct answer)
- Comminuted fracture
- Avulsion fracture
- Pathologic fracture
Correct answer: Stress fracture
Stress fractures develop from cumulative microtrauma — such as repetitive impact in athletes — rather than a single traumatic event.
Question 3: A torus (buckle) fracture is most commonly seen in which population?
- Children under 10 years old (Correct answer)
- Elderly women with osteoporosis
- Young adult athletes
- Middle-aged manual laborers
Correct answer: Children under 10 years old
Torus fractures occur in pediatric bone where the cortex buckles under compression without complete cortical breach, typical of falls onto an outstretched hand.
Question 4: What is the primary contraindication for closed casting of an open (compound) fracture?
- High infection risk requires wound management before casting (Correct answer)
- Open fractures require immediate casting to prevent further bone displacement
- The cast would not adhere over an open wound
- Open fractures always require amputation
Correct answer: High infection risk requires wound management before casting
Open fractures carry high infection risk; wound irrigation, debridement, and often surgical fixation are performed before any definitive cast application.
Question 5: A long arm cast is indicated instead of a short arm cast for which type of fracture?
- Both-bone forearm fracture (radius and ulna) requiring rotational control (Correct answer)
- Isolated distal radius torus fracture
- Boxer's fracture
- Scaphoid fracture (stable)
Correct answer: Both-bone forearm fracture (radius and ulna) requiring rotational control
Both-bone forearm fractures require elbow immobilization to control forearm rotation, which a short arm cast cannot provide.
Question 6: Which Salter-Harris fracture type passes completely through the physis and is associated with the highest risk of growth disturbance?
- Type V (crush injury to the physis) (Correct answer)
- Type I (through the physis only)
- Type II (through physis and metaphysis)
- Type III (through physis and epiphysis)
Correct answer: Type V (crush injury to the physis)
Salter-Harris Type V is a compression (crush) injury of the growth plate that may appear normal on initial X-ray but carries the greatest risk of growth arrest.
OCC OCC Fracture Types & Casting Indications 2
A Jones fracture is located at which anatomical site?