OSCE — Common Fractures

Brief (to candidate)

You will assess a patient with a presentation consistent with Common Fractures.
You have 8 minutes to take a focused history, outline examination, investigations, and management including red flags.

Clinical context

Common fractures covers the most frequently encountered fractures in clinical practice: Colles, Smith, scaphoid, neck of femur, intertrochanteric, tibial plateau, ankle, clavicular, humeral neck, and supracondylar fractures. Each has characteristic mechanisms, deformities, and management principles following AO/OTA classification and Garden classification for femoral neck fractures. Management follows the AO principles: anatomical reduction, stable fixation, preservation of blood supply, early mobilisation. Open fractures require emergency debridement (within 24h), IV antibiotics, tetanus prophylaxis, and stabilisation per Gustilo-Anderson classification.

Candidate tasks

1. Clarify onset, severity, associated features, and red-flag symptoms.
2. State focused examination priorities.
3. List first-line investigations and any named score/criteria.
4. Give immediate resuscitation steps.
5. Outline definitive management with doses/routes where standard.
6. Name complications and disposition (ward / HDU / theatre / discharge safety-net).
7. Mention one special-population modifier (pregnancy, child, elderly, CKD).

Examiner checklist

Model outline

Lead with the working diagnosis and life threats. Resuscitate before definitive tests when unstable. Use guideline-standard therapy with named agents and doses. Document escalation criteria and follow-up. A safe candidate is specific, structured, and never delays critical care for non-urgent imaging.