Difference between revisions of "Bones Fractures - Pathology"

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**Ruptured blood vessels -> haemorrhage and clot formation, some ischaemic necrosis
 
**Ruptured blood vessels -> haemorrhage and clot formation, some ischaemic necrosis
 
***Dead marrow liquefies and is phagocytosed  
 
***Dead marrow liquefies and is phagocytosed  
***Dead bone is removed by [[Bones - normal#Normal structure|osteoclasts]]
+
***Dead bone is removed by [[Bones - Anatomy & Physiology|osteoclasts]]
 
****Continues long after bone has been united by callus
 
****Continues long after bone has been united by callus
**[[Bones - normal#Periosteum and blood supply|Periosteum]] tears, fragments displaced
+
**[[Bones - Anatomy & Physiology|Periosteum]] tears, fragments displaced
 
*-> Haematoma formation, necrosis of any isolated fragments
 
*-> Haematoma formation, necrosis of any isolated fragments
 
*-> Mesenchymal cells proliferate in haematoma - [[Granulation Tissue|granulation tissue]]  
 
*-> Mesenchymal cells proliferate in haematoma - [[Granulation Tissue|granulation tissue]]  
 
**Invading cells: endothelial, fibroblasts, osteoprogenitor
 
**Invading cells: endothelial, fibroblasts, osteoprogenitor
 
*-> Loose collagenous tissue (primary callus)
 
*-> Loose collagenous tissue (primary callus)
*-> Mesenchymal cells differentiate to [[Bones - normal#Normal structure|osteoblasts]] and chondroblasts
+
*-> Mesenchymal cells differentiate to [[Bones - Anatomy & Physiology|osteoblasts]] and chondroblasts
*-> [[Bones - normal#Bone organisation|Woven bone]] (secondary callus)
+
*-> [[Bones - Anatomy & Physiology|Woven bone]] (secondary callus)
 
**External callus - from periosteum
 
**External callus - from periosteum
 
***Periosteal growth eventually bridges the gap between the fracture ends
 
***Periosteal growth eventually bridges the gap between the fracture ends
 
***Blood supply is outstripped
 
***Blood supply is outstripped
 
***Cartilage is produced instead of osteoid
 
***Cartilage is produced instead of osteoid
***Blood vessels invade cartilage -> [[Bones - normal#Bone development|endochondral ossification]]
+
***Blood vessels invade cartilage -> [[Bone & Cartilage Development - Anatomy & Physiology|endochondral ossification]]
 
***Osteoid becomes ossified
 
***Osteoid becomes ossified
 
**Internal callus - from endosteum
 
**Internal callus - from endosteum
 
***Rarely forms cartilage
 
***Rarely forms cartilage
 
***May occlude the medullary cavity
 
***May occlude the medullary cavity
**Osteoid remodelled by [[Bones - normal#Normal structure|osteoclastic resorption]]  
+
**Osteoid remodelled by [[Bones - Anatomy & Physiology|osteoclastic resorption]]  
*-> Mature [[Bones - normal#Bone organisation|lamellar bone]]
+
*-> Mature [[Bones - Anatomy & Physiology|lamellar bone]]
  
  

Revision as of 17:32, 27 February 2011

Fracture classification

  • Traumatic - normal bone broken by excessive force
  • Pathologic - abnormal bone broken by minimal or no trauma


  • Closed - overlying skin and soft tissue is intact
  • Compound - overlying skin and soft tissue are perforated
  • Comminuted - bone is shattered at fracture site
  • Compresses - the ends of the fracture are impacted into each other
  • Avulsed - due to pull of a ligament
  • Transverse
  • Spiral

Fracture repair

Recent healing fracture (Image sourced from Bristol Biomed Image Archive with permission)
  • Fracture
    • Ruptured blood vessels -> haemorrhage and clot formation, some ischaemic necrosis
      • Dead marrow liquefies and is phagocytosed
      • Dead bone is removed by osteoclasts
        • Continues long after bone has been united by callus
    • Periosteum tears, fragments displaced
  • -> Haematoma formation, necrosis of any isolated fragments
  • -> Mesenchymal cells proliferate in haematoma - granulation tissue
    • Invading cells: endothelial, fibroblasts, osteoprogenitor
  • -> Loose collagenous tissue (primary callus)
  • -> Mesenchymal cells differentiate to osteoblasts and chondroblasts
  • -> Woven bone (secondary callus)
    • External callus - from periosteum
      • Periosteal growth eventually bridges the gap between the fracture ends
      • Blood supply is outstripped
      • Cartilage is produced instead of osteoid
      • Blood vessels invade cartilage -> endochondral ossification
      • Osteoid becomes ossified
    • Internal callus - from endosteum
      • Rarely forms cartilage
      • May occlude the medullary cavity
    • Osteoid remodelled by osteoclastic resorption
  • -> Mature lamellar bone


  • Early reactive fracture repair may be mistaken for osteosarcoma on biopsy

Complications of fracture repair

  • Malnutrition
  • Lack of adequate blood supply (leads to hypoxia)
    • Leads to excess cartilage in callus
    • Healing can still occur since this can turn to bone
  • Excess movement
    • Leads to excess fibrous tissue in callus adn formation of false joint (below)
  • Presence of necrotic bone (may form a sequestrum)
  • Poor alignment
  • Bacterial infection

Pseudoarthrosis

  • False joint
  • Non-osseus union
  • From infection, poor imobilisation, avascularity, extensive tearing damage to periosteum
  • Composed of fibrous tissue
  • If mobility continues -> hyaline cartilage forms -> neoarthrosis (formation of new joint)
  • In Osteodystrophia fibrosa, osteomalacia and rickets - callus forms but does not mineralise

Head and neck of femur fracture

  • Vascularisation from joint capsule -> if complete separation -> bone and marrow undergo avascular necrosis
  • Fibrovascular tissue and osteogenic cells invade -> deposit new bone
  • Resorption of articular cartilage and subchondral bone -> osteoarthropathy commonly develops

Sore shins

  • Dorsal metacarpal disease of racehorses
  • In 2-3 year olds
  • Excessive compressive stress on dorsal cortex of third metacarpal -> microfractures
  • Hyperaemic overlying periosteum - -> new bone production to cover the lesion


Also see Repair in the Bones - Pathology