Question

Patient 7: 19-year-old male experiencing wrist pain after a failed dunk attempt during a basketball game; the patient fell to the ground landing on his hands.

Are these bones axial, appendicular, or both?

Answer 1

The patient's wrist pain is likely related to an injury of the appendicular skeleton. Falls onto an outstretched hand can result in a Colles fracture or scaphoid bone fracture, with recovery potentially complicated by blood supply issues and osteoporosis.

Step-by-step explanation:

The 19-year-old male patient experiencing wrist pain after failing to execute a dunk during a basketball game likely suffered an injury to his appendicular skeleton. The appendicular skeleton includes the bones of the limbs and girdles that attach them to the axial skeleton. After a fall like his, common injuries include a Colles fracture of the distal radius, which can result in a 'dinner fork' deformation due to displacement of the hand, or a fracture of the scaphoid bone in the wrist, which has a poor blood supply and can heal slowly with the risk of necrosis and degenerative joint disease.

Injuries of the pectoral girdle, transmission of force from a hand through the upper limb to the axial skeleton, and disorders of the appendicular system such as upper limb bone fractures due to falls also significantly impact functional ability. For individuals with osteoporosis, particularly the elderly, there is an increased risk of fractures. Successful healing and recovery depend greatly on timely and appropriate medical response to these injuries.