Appendicular Skeleton Lab

Abstract

14 year old female has multiple injuries to the left leg after a skiing accident. X-rays revealed a compound fracture to the upper left fibula and tibia as well as a torn meniscal cartilage in the knee. The patient’s leg became infected due to a laceration in the skin. The patient wore a full leg cast that would be reduced to only a lower leg cast once the bone was strong enough to withhold the pressure of weight. Although she was able to walk, she experienced pain and swelling to the knee when doing so. Medical examiners discovered that the meniscal cartilage had never fully healed in her 6 months of treatment.

Doctor’s Notes

• 14 year old female named Nicole with a broken leg caused by a skiing accident

• Spent 3 months in a full body cast to treat her upper left tibial-fibular fracture

• Torn meniscus

• Skin infection due to a laceration that formed when the bone broke skin

• The meniscus is still torn after 6 months

Pathology

Area of Concern Patient’s Issue Normal Notes/Conclusions

Skeletal system - Compound fracture in the left upper tibia and fibula

- Torn meniscal cartilage - bones should be fully intact

- cartilage within the knee must be intact Injuries might have worsened when she got caught to the other skier.

Integumentary System - Area of skin breakage in the skin. - Skin should be fully intact. Sliding down the ski hill may have caused the bone to break skin.

Immune System - Infection to the area of the skin where a laceration occurs

- Swollen knee - There should not be an infection because the immune system works to kill bacteria.

- The knee should not have excess water. Swelling, pain, and infections are signs that the immune system is still correctly doing its job.

1. What does the term "tibial-fibular fracture" mean?

A tibial-fibular fraction occurs when both the tibia and fibula of the leg are fractured.

2. What is a compound fracture?

A...