Which of the following is paired correctly with its description about skeletal fracture?

GMCH Chandigarh - 2019

Medical Surgical Nursing

Easy

Appeared in: GMCH Chandigarh - 2019

Explanation

An avulsion fracture occurs when a strong ligament or tendon, under significant tensile force, pulls a fragment of bone away from its attachment site.
This type of injury is common in athletes and can happen at various joints like the ankle, hip, and fingers during sudden, forceful movements.
The definition provided in the option accurately describes this mechanism, making it the correctly paired statement.

Option B: A greenstick fracture is a true, albeit incomplete, fracture. The statement incorrectly claims it 'does not lead to a fracture'.
Option C: A bone piercing the skin defines an 'open' or 'compound' fracture, not a 'complete' fracture in general. A complete fracture can be closed (skin intact).
Option D: A pathological fracture is defined by the presence of an underlying disease that weakens the bone. Attributing it simply to 'physical trauma' misses the essential context of the pre-existing condition.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Classification and definition of different types of skeletal fractures as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Recognizing fracture types is crucial for nurses to anticipate complications. For example, an open (compound) fracture carries a high risk of osteomyelitis (bone infection) and requires immediate antibiotic therapy and sterile wound management.
A suspected pathological fracture should prompt the nurse to investigate the patient's history for underlying diseases like cancer or metabolic bone disorders, as management will involve treating both the fracture and the primary condition.
What if the question described a fracture from a twisting force in a child, with a spiral pattern on the X-ray? This could be a 'spiral fracture' and, depending on the child's age and the context of the injury, might raise concerns about non-accidental injury that a nurse must be vigilant for.

How to Approach the Question

First, read the question stem carefully to understand the task. Here, you need to find the one option that correctly pairs a fracture type with its definition.
Next, evaluate each option independently. Access your knowledge base for the definition of each fracture type listed (avulsion, greenstick, complete, pathological).
Compare your internal definition with the one provided in the option. For Option A, 'avulsion fracture' is correctly defined.
For Option B, recognize that a 'greenstick fracture' is indeed a fracture, making the description incorrect.
For Option C, identify that 'piercing the skin' defines an 'open' fracture, not all 'complete' fractures.
For Option D, recall that a 'pathological fracture' is primarily due to weakened bone from disease, not just trauma. This makes the description inaccurate.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Classification and definition of different types of skeletal fractures.
Stem keywords: skeletal fracture, paired correctly, description
Lead-in keywords: Which

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