42 - Case Study II Flashcards
1
Q
Chief complaint
A
- 38 year old female
- Painful bump on front of lower left leg
- No history of trauma
- Rapid development over a 24 hour period
- No prior episodes
- No treatment
- Generalized fatigue and “achy ankles” for 2 weeks
2
Q
Medical history
A
- Penicillin allergy (rash, no anaphylaxis, avoided since then)
- Procardia for hypertension
- Protonix for heartburn and gastric reflux during “times of stress”
- Periods of diarrhea over the past 3 years
3
Q
Social history
A
- Elementary school teacher
- Non-smoker
- Has children
4
Q
Surgical history
A
Appendectomy 5 years ago
- Colonoscopy
5
Q
Family
A
Unremarkable
6
Q
ROS
A
- Denies thyroid, heart disease, emphysema, cancer, asthma, diabetes, stroke
- Does have cardiopulmonary and hypertension
- Gastric reflux and heartburn, diarrhea
- Bilateral ankle discomfort, occasional back pain
- No bleeding tendencies
- No previous skin ulceration,cancer or irritation
7
Q
Physical exam
A
- Pleasant and well-oriented
- Temp 100.2, others normal
- Foot pulses +2/4 bilaterally, mild swelling around ankles
- Neurologic sensation in tact, 5+ muscle strength
- Discomfort of ankle range of motion
8
Q
Describe the bump
A
Blister, 2-3 cm in diameter
- Bulla is typically 3 or more cm
- Vesicle is usually less than cm
- In between that is a blister
- They are all fluid filled
- Will breakdown and form an ulcer
- Always important to determine if a lesion was first a blister or just started as an ulcer
Her blister
- Raised fluid filled lesion on anterior aspect of left lower leg
- Warm to touch and very tender
- Lesion and surrounding tissue is tense
- Slight erythema and warmth noted around ankles
- The warmth was slight, no coolness below warmth indicating there is good circulation
9
Q
Diagnostic tests
A
- I and D (irrigation and debridement)
- CBC with diff
- C-reactive protein, sed rate (inflammation)
- Biopsy
- Fluid sample
- X-ray to see foreign body and of ankles
- Rheumatoid factors
10
Q
Ankle x rays
A
- Soft tissue swelling with joint distension
- No bone pathology
- Joint line looked like there was diffusion and distenstion of the bones themselves
11
Q
CBC
A
- RBC 4.2
- Hct 36
- Hemoglobin 11
A little low, maybe a little anemia going on (not that uncommon in inflammatory bowel disease - IBS, Crohn’s)
12
Q
Sed rate
A
45
High, ulcerative collitis is acting up (likely)
13
Q
Aspiration and culture of lesion
A
Yellow brown fluid
- Negative gram stain
14
Q
Biopsy
A
- Extensive neutrophilic infiltration
- Hemorrhage and necrosis of the overlying epidermis
- Vasculitic appearing
Didn’t debride it because I didn’t know what it was - waited for the results (24 hours)
15
Q
Other tests
A
- HLAB27 and Rh factor for reumatoid arthritis
- No MRI yet