Block 43 Flashcards
List the 7 criteria which classify a baby as ‘at risk’ of DDH, warranting a referral for US scan.
1) All babies born breech from 36 weeks onwards, breech births (vaginal or caesarean) including those where ECV was carried out.
2) FHx of hip dysplasia or dislocation.
3) Congenital deformity the feet.
4) Clicky hips
5) Unstable hips
6) Limited abduction in flexion.
7) Apparent shortening of one/ both legs.
Why can the use of USS to screen for DDH lead to over treatment?
Because USS for DDH has a high sensitivity but a low specificity.
1) Pathological DDH is mainly associated with which sex?
2) Describe the PPV of the 6-8 week GP hip check for DDH.
3) What is a useful clinical sign in diagnosis of pathological DDH?
1) Pathological DDH is mainly a female condition.
2) GP 6-8 week hip check has a very low PPV for pathological DDH.
3) Unilateral limitation of hip abduction.
Give 3 ways in which abnormal gait/ posture can socially impact upon a patient and they family.
1) Only a small proportion of these abnormalities are clinically significant, but they can cause much parental anxiety.
2) Child may get stigmatised/ bullied for different gait or posture.
3) May become socially withdrawn.
Give 3 psychological/ socioeconomic consequences of hip fractures for patients, their families or the wider community.
1) Injury can cause massive change in lifestyle (previously dependent elderly patient may become dependent and require carers).
2) An elderly person suddenly becoming much less independent may lead to social isolation and subsequently depression.
3) In a young person, may mean an inability to get back to playing sports which may lead to depression.
4) 30% mortality within a year.
5) Hip fractures cost NHS £2billion annually.
Name 5 risk factors for osteoporosis.
1) Female
2) CKD
3) GI disease/ poor calcium intake
4) Oestrogen deficiency (i.e. menopause)
5) Hyperparathyroidism
6) Increased age
7) Decreased BMI
8) Smoking and alcohol intake
Name 3 drugs which can increase the risk of developing osteoporosis.
1) Glucocorticoids
2) Aromatase inhibitors
3) SERMs
4) Anti-androgens
5) PPIs
6) SSRIs
According to NICE, which patients may need a falls assessment?
Those aged over 65 who:
1) have had one or more falls in the last 12/12
2) are at risk due to:
- cognitive/ visual impairment
- frailty/ a condition which affects balance (PD, arthritis, stroke)
- taking multiple/ psychoactive/ anti-hypertensive drugs
State 2 tests which can be done to assess a patient’s falls risk.
1) ‘Time up and go test’ = patient is timed to get up and out of a chair, walk 3m and then return to the chair. 12-14s = increased risk of fall.
2) 180 degree turn test = ask patient to stand and turn 180 degrees about the spot. If this requires more than 4 steps, there is an increased falls risk.
State 5 factors that a multifactorial falls assessment might assess.
1) identification of falls history
2) assessment of gait, balance and mobility, and muscle weakness
3) assessment of osteoporosis risk
4) assessment of the older person’s perceived functional ability and fear relating to falling
5) assessment of visual impairment
6) assessment of cognitive impairment and neurological examination
7) assessment of urinary incontinence
8) assessment of home hazards
9) cardiovascular examination and medication review
1) What percentage of the community aged over 65 have a fall each year?
2) What percentage of the community aged over 65 who have experienced at least one fall then have recurrent falls each year?
3) How much more common are falls in institutions compared to in the community?
4) What percentage of those in the community aged over 90 have a fall each year?
1) 30%
2) 50%
3) 3x more common
4) 55% of those over 90 will have a fall each year
1) What are the most common cause of injury in the elderly?
2) What percentage of falls cause a hip fracture?
1) Falls
2) 1-2% falls cause a hip fracture.
Name 3 consequences of an elderly person having a fall or recurrent falls.
1) Hip fracture (50% no longer live independently after this)
2) Minor injuries (cuts, contusions)
3) ‘Long lie’ leading to hypothermia, pressure sores, pneumonia, rhabdomyolysis, AKI, CKD.
4) Psychological problems (fear of falling, self-imposed activity restriction, loss of mobility, depression)
**note that there are also impacts on carers as the patient often is increasingly dependent and more disabled.
Clinically, describe the presentation of a hip fracture.
Characteristically externally rotated and shortened.
**NOF fracture may impinge blood supply to femoral head, leading to avascular necrosis.
State the 4 ways in which outcome from hip fractures can be improved.
1) Fast admission.
2) Operate within 24 hours.
3) Mobilise within 24 hours.
4) Initiate early discharge planning with carers.
If a patient performs poorly in the ‘time up and go’ and ‘180 degrees turn test’, what might be offered?
A multifactorial falls assessment.
Describe 2 ways in which hip fractures can be prevented.
1) Falls prevention
2) Bone protection (bisphosphonates, calcium/ vitamin D supplements, HRT)
1) Describe the effect of calcium/vitamin D supplements on preventing hip fractures)
2) Why do bisphosphonates often have poor compliance?
3) What are the risks of taking HRT?
4) By what percentage do bisphosphonates decrease hip fracture occurrence?
5) By what percentage does HRT decrease hip fracture occurrence?
1) Calcium and vitamin D have a modest effect when used in combination but vitamin D does not have an effect when used in isolation.
2) Because daily use causes gastric SEs.
3) Increased risk of DVT, breast cancer and dementia.
4) 30%
5) 20-30%
Name 5 risk factors for hip fractures.
1) Increasing age (every 5yrs = 2x increased risk)
2) Female
3) Low BMI
4) Smoking
5) PMHx of fractures
6) FHx of fractures
7) Corticosteroid use
8) Ethnicity (Afrocaribbean = decreased risk)
State 3 risk factors for falling along with their relative risk of causing a fall.
1) Muscle weakness (RR - 4.4)
2) Fall Hx (RR - 3)
3) Gait + balance deficit (RR - 2.9)
4) Visual deficit (RR - 2.5)
**Risk varies for different visual problems (depth perception > contrast sensitivity > acuity).
Is polypharmacy a risk factor for falls?
It is thought that the risk of fall due to chronic disease and multiple pathologies is higher than the polypharmacy needed to control these.
Give 3 ways that Tinetti suggested falls risk can be reduced.
1) Psychotropic drug withdrawal (decreased falls by 66% but also decreased QoL)
2) OT assessment (assess at home risk and make recommendations to decrease risk)
3) Podiatry input (better footwear, orthotic devices, calf-ankle exercises)
What are the aims of rehabilitation after a fall causing injury?
Aims are to maximise independence, enable normal ADLs and to maintain social participation.
Briefly describe the rehab process following a hip fracture.
Following fracture, patients are referred to an MDT who will coordinate their rehabilitation care.
Give examples of 3 professions which work within a hip fracture MDT.
1) PT
2) OT
3) Social workers
4) Geriatricians (some hospitals now have orthogeriatricians)
What is the role of an MDT after rehabilitation of a patient who had a hip fracture?
To assess needs for discharge and that the patient is safe to be discharged.
Give the leading causes of TBI.
1) Falls - 35.2%
2) Motor vehicle crash - 17.3%
3) Struck by/ against an object - 16%
4) Assaults - 10%
5) Sports-related - 10%
6) Others - 21%
1) What is the leading cause of death in children and young adults under 44 years of age?
2) TBI accounts for what percentage of deaths occurring as a result of acute injury?
3) How many attend A&E with head trauma per annum?
1) TBI (10,000 p.a. in the UK)
2) 40%
3) 1 million
Describe the distribution of TBIs across the ages.
Trimodal distribution:
1) 5-9
2) 15-24
3) 80+
Give 3 risk factors for suffering polytraumas or TBIs.
1) Age
2) Gender
3) >50% transport-related
4) Lower SES
5) Previous TBI
6) Sports and dangerous occupations
Describe the positive prognostic factors for TBI (4).
1) Shorter duration of coma (>4 weeks = very poor outcome)
2) Better motor response on GCS
3) Shorter duration of post-traumatic amnesia (>11 weeks is inconsistent with independent living)
4) Younger age (<20 better than >60)
5) Minimal brainstem involvement
6) Premorbid psychosocial status (higher = improved outcomes.
**NOTE: site of TBI bears a weak/ no correlation to outcomes.
Give 3 different groups of people who may be involved in ongoing assessment of patients after multi-trauma injuries.
1) PTs
2) OTs
3) Speech and language therapy
4) Psychological therapy (CBT)
5) Charities (E.G. HEADWAY - a charitable brain injury association)
State the ‘yellow flags’ for chronicity.
Psychosocial and behavioural factors which have been shown to be indicative of long term chronicity and disability:
1) Negative attitude that back pain is harmful/ severely disabling
2) Fear avoidance behaviour and decreased activity levels
3) An expectation that passive, rather than active treatment, will be beneficial
4) Tendency to depression, low morale and social withdrawal
5) Social or financial problems
What does NICE recommend should be used in order to informalities management for chronic back pain?
NICE suggests using the ‘STarT Back’ risk stratification tool to inform management of patients with chronic back pain.
What does the ‘STarT Back’ tool do?
Stratify’s the risk that a patient is at of having persistent disabling symptoms or poor outcomes in relation to back pain.
Name 3 things that you should not offer for a person with chronic or disabling back pain.
1) Acupuncture
2) Electrotherapy
3) Orthotics/ traction
4) Spinal injections
5) Disc replacement or spinal fusion (unless part of an RCT).
State the 9 factors taken into consideration on the ‘STarT Back’ risk stratification tool for chronic or disabling back pain.
1) Referred leg pain
2) Co-morbid pain elsewhere
3) Disability (two questions)
4) Fear avoidance
5) Anxiety
6) Catastrophising
7) Depression
8) Overall impact
How is the ‘STarT back’ screening tool interpreted?
- 0-3 = low risk + minimal treatment required
- 4 or more on total score = medium risk + physiotherapy required
- 4 or more on sub score = high risk + enhanced physiotherapy required
Describe the impact of persistent, disabling back pain or amputation on an individual.
1) Withdrawal from activities - ‘fear behaviour’
2) May feel stigmatised, especially if others feel they are feigning their illness
3) May lead to psychological sequalae
4) Altered body image in amputation