[Type the author name]

Adam Nichols

Dawn Lewis

Anthony Aber

BIO 105

Case Study One

Beauford is a 16 year old male who presents with an injury to his right leg while
playing football on a cold, rainy Friday night. When you, the paramedic, arrive at
the site you observe the following:

• Injury is located on the right anterior femoral region, just proximal to the
knee

• The bone is sticking out of the leg through the football pants with massive
amounts of blood loss present

• The leg is angulated at an odd angle

• Beauford is unusually quiet and appears quite pale

Answer the following questions:

1. What bone is most likely fractured and what type of fracture is present? (1
point)

The Femur is fractured. The fracture is open or compound.

2. Each bone in the human body has unique bone markings (depressions,
knobs, raised areas, notches, holes, etc). Thinking about the specific location
of this fracture, identify a bone marking that may also be affected. (1 point)
Depending on where the fracture is it could affect the linea aspera which runs
from the beginning of the proximal region or the shaft to the distal region of
the shaft; or the lateral epicondyle, lateral condyle, or medial condyle which
are all located on the far distal region for the femur.

3. What specific type of cartilage lines the weight bearing portions of bones and
what is this cartilage’s function? (1 point) articular cartilage, to allow the
bones to glide while articulating

4. For Beauford, why might this fracture location be troublesome for him?
(see textbook page 162 for assistance) (1 point) This fracture could have
 injured a growth plate and has the potential to create a permanent deformity.

5. Why is Beauford “unusually quiet and pale”? In your explanation, identify

what important anatomical structure may have been compromised during
this injury. (2 points) Beauford is most likely quiet and pale due to the loss
of blood, he is in shock, and the paleness comes from his body directing the
blood he has left to vital organs. He is probably quiet from being nauseas
due to the decrease in blood pressure. One anatomical structure that could
have been damages is the femoral artery, there is also a large potential for
blood loss from the femur itself.

6. With this massive amount of blood loss, identify a major complication that
might occur and identify the paramedic’s treatment for this complication.
(There will be more than one complication, just pick one and explain!!!) (2
points) Hypotension, to treat this the paramedic would want to as soon as
possible get two large bore IV’s established and start infusing the patient with
fluids, while being careful not to induce hypervolemic shock . Other
treatments for shock would include trendelenburg, high flow 02, keep warm,
rapid transport, and airway management.

7. As Beauford’s bone is healing (probably will take 3 – 6 months for this injury),
describe the physiology of bone manufacturing. Include in your discussion,
the different bone cells and their responsibilities in repair/reconstruction. (2
points) The process begins with necrosis from interrupted blood supply
which in turn triggers an inflammatory response. The inflammation process
brings in tissues that are capable of forming bone, cartilage, and collagen.
These tissues create a callus. Calcium and other minerals start to form under
the callus while osteoclasts remove the necropsied tissue. The remodeling
phase now begins while the bone attempts to regain its original shape and
size.