SOAS Exam 3 Questions and Answers
100% Pass
What are the four regions of physeal anatomy? Describe them - ✔✔Reserved -
metabolically active, small
Proliferation - increase in number
Hypertrophy - increase in size
Calcification - maturation phase when cartilage turns into bone
What is the weakest point of physeal transition zones? - ✔✔Hypertrophy
Salter Harris fractures: type one - ✔✔Straight across
--> separation through the physis
Where is the most common location for a Salter-Harris type I fracture? - ✔✔Slipped
capital physis of femur
Salter Harris fractures: type two - ✔✔above
Separation through physis and metaphysis
100% Pass Guarantee Katelyn Whitman All Rights Reserved © 2025 1
,Where is the most common location for a Salter-Harris type II fracture? - ✔✔Distal
femur
Salter Harris fractures: type three - ✔✔lower
Articular fracture caused by separation through the epiphysis and physis
Where are salter-harris type III fractures usually found? - ✔✔Distal humerus
What is the least common type of salter-Harris fracture? - ✔✔Salter-harris III
Salter Harris fractures: type four - ✔✔through everything
Separation from epiphysis, physis, and metaphysis causing an articular fracture as well
Where are you most likely to see a Salter-Harris type IV fracture? - ✔✔Distal humerus
Salter Harris fractures: type five - ✔✔crush - physeal crushing injury
Where are you most likely to see a Salter-Harris type 5 fracture? - ✔✔Distal radius and
ulna
Why is the most common site for physeal injury the radius and the ulna? - ✔✔Because
its a paired set of bones
Cone shape of distal ulnar physis
rapid growth rate
100% Pass Guarantee Katelyn Whitman All Rights Reserved © 2025 2
,After a physeal fracture, what factors affect the degree of growth alteration - ✔✔Degree
of growth alteration depends on blood supply to the affected area, mechanical
disruption, and growth potential remaining
What is the Thurston-Holland sign? - ✔✔It is when the epiphysis is separated from the
physis with the fracture extending into the metaphysis. It makes a triangular fracture
fragment.
In which type of Salter Harris fractures do you see a Thurston-Holland sign? - ✔✔Two
and four
How do you minimize surgical trauma during the repair of a Salter-Harris fracture? -
✔✔Use pins instead of things like screws as this limits the trauma
Adaption osteosynthesis - ✔✔?? Ask Gina
Proximal humerus SH fractures are usually what type? - ✔✔type I
What are the surgical repairs for a salter-harris fracture of the proximal humerus? The
prognosis? - ✔✔repair with screws and maybe tension bands if necessary
Good prognosis
How do you repair a proximal humerus SH fracture if the humeral head is completely
fractures off? - ✔✔Add Lag screw
100% Pass Guarantee Katelyn Whitman All Rights Reserved © 2025 3
, Salter-Harris fractures of the distal humerus are typically where in it? What type of SH
fracture are they? - ✔✔Lateral aspect of the distal humeral condyle
IV
Why are spaniel breeds pre-disposed to having SH type 4 fractures of the distal
humerus? - ✔✔Cartilage defect in which they have incomplete ossification
How does jumping/ falling cause a fracture of the distal humerus? - ✔✔There is a
transfer of energy trough the radial head, this pushes on the condyle, causing the
fracture
The radial head transmits ______% of weight to the distal humerus - ✔✔85%
What are the surgical repairs for a salter-Harris fracture of the distal humerus? The
prognosis? - ✔✔Reduce w/ clamp or bone reduction forceps...
Stabilize with transcondylar screw across epiphysis
Add in anti-rotational K wire
What are the surgical repairs for a salter-harris type I fracture of the distal radius? The
prognosis? - ✔✔cross pinning
Good
100% Pass Guarantee Katelyn Whitman All Rights Reserved © 2025 4
100% Pass
What are the four regions of physeal anatomy? Describe them - ✔✔Reserved -
metabolically active, small
Proliferation - increase in number
Hypertrophy - increase in size
Calcification - maturation phase when cartilage turns into bone
What is the weakest point of physeal transition zones? - ✔✔Hypertrophy
Salter Harris fractures: type one - ✔✔Straight across
--> separation through the physis
Where is the most common location for a Salter-Harris type I fracture? - ✔✔Slipped
capital physis of femur
Salter Harris fractures: type two - ✔✔above
Separation through physis and metaphysis
100% Pass Guarantee Katelyn Whitman All Rights Reserved © 2025 1
,Where is the most common location for a Salter-Harris type II fracture? - ✔✔Distal
femur
Salter Harris fractures: type three - ✔✔lower
Articular fracture caused by separation through the epiphysis and physis
Where are salter-harris type III fractures usually found? - ✔✔Distal humerus
What is the least common type of salter-Harris fracture? - ✔✔Salter-harris III
Salter Harris fractures: type four - ✔✔through everything
Separation from epiphysis, physis, and metaphysis causing an articular fracture as well
Where are you most likely to see a Salter-Harris type IV fracture? - ✔✔Distal humerus
Salter Harris fractures: type five - ✔✔crush - physeal crushing injury
Where are you most likely to see a Salter-Harris type 5 fracture? - ✔✔Distal radius and
ulna
Why is the most common site for physeal injury the radius and the ulna? - ✔✔Because
its a paired set of bones
Cone shape of distal ulnar physis
rapid growth rate
100% Pass Guarantee Katelyn Whitman All Rights Reserved © 2025 2
,After a physeal fracture, what factors affect the degree of growth alteration - ✔✔Degree
of growth alteration depends on blood supply to the affected area, mechanical
disruption, and growth potential remaining
What is the Thurston-Holland sign? - ✔✔It is when the epiphysis is separated from the
physis with the fracture extending into the metaphysis. It makes a triangular fracture
fragment.
In which type of Salter Harris fractures do you see a Thurston-Holland sign? - ✔✔Two
and four
How do you minimize surgical trauma during the repair of a Salter-Harris fracture? -
✔✔Use pins instead of things like screws as this limits the trauma
Adaption osteosynthesis - ✔✔?? Ask Gina
Proximal humerus SH fractures are usually what type? - ✔✔type I
What are the surgical repairs for a salter-harris fracture of the proximal humerus? The
prognosis? - ✔✔repair with screws and maybe tension bands if necessary
Good prognosis
How do you repair a proximal humerus SH fracture if the humeral head is completely
fractures off? - ✔✔Add Lag screw
100% Pass Guarantee Katelyn Whitman All Rights Reserved © 2025 3
, Salter-Harris fractures of the distal humerus are typically where in it? What type of SH
fracture are they? - ✔✔Lateral aspect of the distal humeral condyle
IV
Why are spaniel breeds pre-disposed to having SH type 4 fractures of the distal
humerus? - ✔✔Cartilage defect in which they have incomplete ossification
How does jumping/ falling cause a fracture of the distal humerus? - ✔✔There is a
transfer of energy trough the radial head, this pushes on the condyle, causing the
fracture
The radial head transmits ______% of weight to the distal humerus - ✔✔85%
What are the surgical repairs for a salter-Harris fracture of the distal humerus? The
prognosis? - ✔✔Reduce w/ clamp or bone reduction forceps...
Stabilize with transcondylar screw across epiphysis
Add in anti-rotational K wire
What are the surgical repairs for a salter-harris type I fracture of the distal radius? The
prognosis? - ✔✔cross pinning
Good
100% Pass Guarantee Katelyn Whitman All Rights Reserved © 2025 4
