A 21-year-old female undergraduate student was struck by a car. She was rushed to the ER where the following injuries were noted regarding her skeletal system:
- fracture of superior right tibia; 3.5 cm laceration where bone protrudes
nutrient artery of tibia damaged
- medial meniscus of right knee joint crushed; knee joint inflamed and painful
The ER personnel cleaned the area. The fracture was subjected to open reduction and a
cast was applied.
Questions:
1) What type of fracture does the patient have? Use as many appropriate keywords as
possible.
2) Given an uncomplicated recovery, how long should it take before the patient's bone
has healed? What complications might result from the damage to the nutrient artery?
3) The patient says, "the only supplement I would need is calcium, so I will take a calcium
supplement every morning." Is this statement correct? What other nutrient(s) would the
patient need to maintain a healthy bone mass?
4) How likely is it that the patient's knee meniscus will heal? Why?