OCC Fracture Types & Casting Indications Flashcards

A Jones fracture is located at which anatomical site?

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.

Which fracture results from repetitive loading rather than acute trauma?

Answer: Stress fracture

Stress fractures develop from cumulative microtrauma — such as repetitive impact in athletes — rather than a single traumatic event.

A torus (buckle) fracture is most commonly seen in which population?

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.

What is the primary contraindication for closed casting of an open (compound) fracture?

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.

A long arm cast is indicated instead of a short arm cast for which type of fracture?

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.

Which Salter-Harris fracture type passes completely through the physis and is associated with the highest risk of growth disturbance?

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.