Pathophysiology

Pathophysiology Study Guide

©2018 of 131 bruising over the bone, deformity of the arm or leg, pain in the injured area that gets worse with movement, loss of function in the injured area, and sometimes, protruding of the bone from the skin. There are different types of fractures, which are reviewed below. Complete Complete fractures are characterized by the snapping of the bone into two or more parts. Complete fractures can further be categorized as open, closed, and comminuted fractures. Open fractures, also known as compound fractures, are characterized by the piercing of a bone or by a blow that leads to the breakdown of the skin during the occurrence of the fracture. It may or may not be possible to see the bone from the wound in this case. With a closed fracture, the bone gets broken but no visible wound appears on the skin. Finally, a comminuted fracture is when the bone breaks in several pieces. Incomplete/Partial Incomplete fractures are when the bones do not break fully but are cracked. Incomplete fractures are of two types: Greenstick fractures and stress fractures. Greenstick fractures are characterized by the bending of the bone. These types of fractures are more common in children. In contrast, a stress fracture is a hairline fracture. Dislocation/Subluxation Dislocation of a bone is characterized by the fracturing in or near the joints that causes partial or even complete movement of the joint from its original place. In the case of dislocation, the bony components of the joint lose contact with each other. In subluxation, the bony parts do not lose complete contact but remain in partial touch with each other. However, both these types of fractures cause inefficient working of the affected joint. 6.10 Neoplasia Neoplasia is the development of uncontrolled and unwanted growth of cells that have the potential to cause cancer or tumors. Different kinds of neoplasia in neurology and the musculoskeletal system of the body are reviewed below. Tumors of the Brain and Spinal Cord Tumors of the brain and spinal cord are masses of abnormal cells that grow in an uncontrollable fashion in the central nervous system of the body. These tumors can press or grow in different areas of the brain and spinal cord. The tumors of the brain and spinal cord can be categorized as benign tumors, malignant tumors, or metastatic brain tumors. Signs and symptoms depend on the type and intensity of the cancer or tumor cells. However, the common signs of brain tumors include nausea, headache, drowsiness, difficulty in speech and remembering, short term memory issues, disturbed vision and hearing, disturbed smell and taste ability, unconsciousness, depression, personality changes, and irritability. Signs and symptoms of spinal cord tumors include pain in the back and neck, Achieve Page 108